The Parsi New Year, also known as
Navroz, is celebrated to mark the beginning of the new Iranian calendar. In
Persian, ‘Nav’ means new, and ‘Roz’ stands for the day, this literally
translates to ‘new day’. This tradition is believed to have begun over 3,000
years ago, and is observed by Iranians and the Parsi community around the
world, and most prominently in Maharashtra and Gujarat in India on account of
the sizeable Parsi population. It falls in the month of August, according to
the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Observance
While Navroz takes place on March
21 for most of the world, in the Indian subcontinent, the Shahenshahi Calendar is followed which does not take leap years
into account, which is why Navroz is celebrated 200 days later.
Navroz is also known as
Jamshed-i-Navroz after the Persian King, Jamshed, who is credited to have
created the Persian Calendar known as the Shahenshahi Calendar. Legend has it
that Jamshed saved the world from an apocalypse, a winter that was destined to
kill everyone; by using a throne studded with gems and rising to the heavens on
the shoulders of demons he shone brighter than the sun and gave birth to a new
day, Navroz.
Significance
Navroz is not only a time for
celebrating, renewing spirits with kindness and patience, and feasting, but
also a time for cleansing oneself from all past evil deeds and thoughts, and to
repent one’s mistakes. It is also dedicated to cleansing one’s mind, body and
soul from all evil thoughts and deeds, people pray for prosperity on this day.
Observance
Navroz celebrations begin on New
Year’s eve, also known as Pateti, when Parsis rigorously go into cleaning mode
externally too and get rid of all their unwanted belongings and possessions, in
the hopes of cleansing themselves.
Come Navroz, and Parsis get
dressed in their traditional attire, visit the Fire Temple, or Agiary, where
they offer flowers like jasmine, sandalwood and milk to the holy fire. They
also offer prayers, visit friends and relatives and also make donations to
charity.
They also decorate their homes with lights, bright rangolis and flowers, greet guests by sprinkling rose water on them, and eat delicious Parsi delicacies like dhansak, farcha, berry pulao, patra nu machhi and salli boti.