"When an elder dies, a library burns down..."

The days of the Parwanaya (Panja) are days of faith, purity and joy for the Mandaeans. As the Mandaeans rejoice in these blessed days, they eagerly await them, and relate this occasion to everything that is dear, valuable, and joyful. Moreover, they  do not grieve over those who die in these days as they would in the rest of the days. This is because they believe that the soul of the deceased will, in honor of these days of light, ascend without going through the obstacles of purification.

The marshes of south of Iraq are considered one of the important waterbodies in the country and one of the most important environmental characteristics that the Iraqi environment has since the ancient historical ages , due to their great role in the construction of population communities that were inside and on the outskirts of the marshes.  It is well-established and recognized that Iraq is the oldest and most ancient human civilization that rose from the marshes regi.