Parsi New Year

Held during 16th August 2022

Parsi New Year is a traditional ancient Iranian and Indian Festival which celebrates the start of the Iranian and Parsi New Year. Zoroastrian Parsis in India celebrate their New Year or Noruz twice, Firstly in common with their Iranian brethren on the Vernal Equinox as Jamshedi Navroz (March 21 or the previous/following day) and Secondly on a day in July or August, depending upon whether they follow the Kadmi or the Shahenshahi calendar. This is because the practice of intercalation in the Zoroastrian calendar was lost on their arrival in India. The Kadmi New Year always precedes the Shahenshahi New Year by 30 days

Parsi New Year in March

History

There are various Legends regarding the Origins of the Festival:

King Jamshid - The Shahnameh (Persian national epic), dates Nowruz as far back to the reign of Jamshid, who in Zoroastrian texts saved mankind from a killer winter that was destined to kill every living creature. The mythical Persian King Jamshid (Yima or Yama of the Indo-Iranian lore) perhaps symbolizes the transition of the Indo-Iranians from animal hunting to animal husbandry and a more settled life in human history. In the Shahnameh and Iranian mythology, he is credited with the foundation of Nowruz. In the Shahnama, Jamshid constructed a throne studded with gems. He had demons raise him above the earth into the heavens; there he sat on his throne like the sun shining in the sky. The world's creatures gathered in wonder about him and scattered jewels around him, and called this day the 'New Day' or 'No/Now-Ruz'. This was the first day of the month of Farvardin (the first month of the Persian calendar).

Motion of the Universe - The Persian scholar Abu Rayhan Biruni of the 10th century A.D., in his Persian work 'Kitab al-Tafhim li Awa'il Sina'at al-Tanjim' mentions Nowruz. According to him: It is the belief of the Persians that Nowruz marks the first day when the universe started its motion.

Ancient Iranian Traditions - The celebration has its roots in Ancient Iran. Due to its antiquity, there exist various foundation myths for Nowruz in Iranian mythology. In the Zoroastrian tradition, the seven most important Zoroastrian festivals are the six Gahambars and Nowruz, which occurs at the spring equinox. Between sunset of the day of the 6th Gahanbar and sunrise of Nowruz was celebrated Hamaspathmaedaya (later known, in its extended form, as Frawardinegan). This and the Gahanbar are the only festivals named in the surviving text of the Avesta (sacred texts of Zoroastrianism).

Iranian Historians Writings - The Persian historian 'Abu Said Gardezi', in his work titled 'Zayn al-Akhba', under the section of the Zoroastrians Festivals mentions Nowruz and specifically points out that Zoroaster highly emphasized the celebration of Nowruz.

Events

• Jamshedi Navroz is day of get-togethers. People visit and meet the near and dear ones and pay respect to the elders of the family. On this day, people get up early in the morning, clean their house, take bath and dress up in new clothes. They decorate the entrance of their houses with coloured powders, light incense sticks and place a burning coal scuttle sprinkled with sandalwood powder. This is done to keep the air clean and fresh. There is also a tradition of offer food to the poor on this day.

• Parsis lay down certain auspicious items on the table on the day of New Year. It includes a sacred book, a picture of Zarathustra, mirror, candles, incense burner, fruits, flowers, a goldfish bowl, sugar, bread and some coins. These things symbolize prosperity and longevity for the family members.

• Parsi delicacies play a very important role in the New Year celebrations. A sweet Ravo (made from sugar, milk and suji) and vermicelli are the best breakfast for Navroz. After breakfast, whole family visits a nearby Fire Temple or Agiary. Priests perform a thanks giving prayer in the temple called Jashan and the congregation offers sandalwood to the Holy Fire with covered heads. They wish each other 'Sal Mubarak'.

• Parsi Navroz lunch consists of pulav (with nuts and saffron), fish and other spicy non-vegetarian food. Cooking plain rice and moong dal is a must in Parsi community. Every visitor to the house is welcomed with sprinkle of rose water and offering faluda (rose flavoured chilled vermicelli).

• New Year Celebrations ends on the 13th day from the New Year's day. It is known as 'Sizdah be dar'. It is the custom of leaving the house for public celebrations. These celebrations are done by visiting out with friends and family members. On this day, people throw their sabzeh (seeds grown at Navroz) into a river. Some unmarried girls tie sprouts of sabzeh and wish for good fortune and love in life while some crack jokes calling it the thirteenth lie(same as April's fool).

• Food is a significant part of the Parsi New Year. It includes a wide selection of non-vegetarian dishes, fruits and nuts. Two important dishes in breakfast for the Parsi New Year are Ravo and fried vermicelli cooked in sugar syrup and decorated with raisins.

Alternate Names - Persian New Year, Fasli New Year.

Holiday Status - It is a Restricted Holiday.

Parsi New Year in July / August

The Parsi New Year celebrated in August is an equally important Festival of Parsi Community. Mumbai's Zoroastrian community commemorates its forefather's escape from Persia by conducting rituals at fire temples, visiting friends and indulging in legendary feasting. Parsi people celebrate their new year in August, which is also known as Pateti. It is an important festival because on this day the Shahenshahi Zoroastrian community arrived in India while migrating from Persia. This festival is celebrated at the fire temple and the Parsi community strengthens the bond through feasts, where they meet friends and relatives.  

History

There are certain Legend related to the Origins of the Festival:

Shah Jamshed - Over 3000 years ago Shah Jamshed of the Peshadian dynasty ascended the throne on "Navroze" - 'Nav' meaning 'New' and 'Roze' meaning day. It was the day of the Equinox - a day when light and darkness stand equal on the scale of space and time when the length of the day equals that of the night. That particular day came to be known as 'Jamshed Navroz' and is celebrated even in modern times with lot of feasting. Navroz means spring when Mother Nature casts off everything that is old or super-flows and dresses herself like a young bride in every vibrant colour and hue, rejoicing in her own pure spiritual beauty. Thus Navroz is a new dawn in everyone's life.

Gahambars - Parsis believe that there are Six Seasons in a year with an important Festival in each of them. These Festivals are known by the name of Gahambars. These were originally agricultural Festivals but as Zoroastrianism developed, they assumed religious significance. In each of these festivals Parsis do a lot of charity to the needy. To extend a helping hand to the poor is special characteristic of the Parsis.

Good vs Evil - Navroj is the first day of the first month of the Zoroastrian year. "Struggle for good against Evil With Humata (good thoughts), Hukta (good words) and Havarshta (good deeds)." Thus spoke Zoroaster, the great prophet of Iran to his followers:

"There is but one path, the path of 'Asha'. All other paths are false paths, 'Yasna'.
This quotation sums up the teachings of Prophet Zoroaster. 'Asha' is a Path of Action - good thoughts, good words and good deeds - with emphasis on service to the suffering humanity. Zoroastrian is monotheistic in its higher ideology having 'Ahura Mazda' as its Supreme Deity and 'Ahriman' as a lesser power of evil, which continually retards the smooth progress of good-universe, is conceived as a battlefield between 'Ahura Mazda' and 'Ahriman'. In this confrontation, 'Ahura Mazda' will ultimately defeat 'Ahriman'.

Events

• On this day men, women and even children wake up early, bath and dress up in new clothes. They decorate the threshold and steps of their houses with coloured powders, light incense sticks and sprinkle sandalwood powder on live coals, kept in a censor. All this not only is auspicious but also is meant to purify the air.

• On this day, Parsis prepare non-vegetarian, fish, mutton, chicken, nuts, spices and fruits which have been bought a day before are prepared for the following day of Navroz.

• For breakfast on the day of Navroz two special dishes are served. One is the "Ravo" made with Suji, milk and sugar and the other is fried vermicelli cooked in sugar syrup and sprinkled with raisins and lot of almond slivers.

• After breakfast the entire family member go to the nearest Fire Temple or Agiary as it is called. In the temple a "Jashan" - the priest performs a thanks-giving prayer and each one of the assembled gatherings offers sandalwood to the Holy Fire. After the "Jashan" ceremony all people greet each other by saying "Sal Mubarak".

• Pateti comes in the  month of Navroj by the Parsis.On Pateti day, the Parsis visit the Fire Temple or Agiary. The Parsis worship 'Ahura Mazda', symbolised by fire. The Parsis on this day, promise to live with good thoughts, use good words and perform the right actions.The word Pateti is derived from 'Pazend Patet', meaning ‘Repentance’. The last day of the Pateti come to fall on the first day of the New Year. The significance of Pateti is that it is the day to dwell on the wrongs or sins one may have committed the previous year, and atoning for them.

• In the Zoroastrian religion, Fire is looked upon, as a visible symbol of Godhead and it is believed that the prophet himself brought the Sacred Fire to earth from heaven. In Zoroastrian Temples that are known as Fire temples, fire is kept burning all the time. Priests called 'Jozdalhregavs' tend these temples.

• Lunch consists of Pulav, rich with nuts and saffron, fish in green masala and spicy chicken curries. Besides all the delicacies, cooking plain rice and moong dal is a must on this Navroz day. The children of the family hand over food packets and clothes to the poor Parsi families. Parsi children are thus taught to give and share with others.

• Throughout the day on this festival, there is much visiting of friends and relatives. Every visitor is offered some sweet and a glass of "faluda" - sweet and chilled vermicelli and flavoured with rose essence. In all Parsi homes a silver tray is kept ready with roses, coconuts and kumkum for `tilak'. Rose water is freely sprayed on every visitor as he enters.

• Parsi families also exchange gifts and sweets.

• The ritual in this festival that is of paramount importance is the free mixing of men and women, which certainly is a sign of equality.

Alternate Names - Narooz, Navroj, Nawroz, Nawruz, Naw-Rúz, Navroz, Navruz, Navrez, Nauroz, Nauruz, Nauryz, Newroz, Newruz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Norouz, Norooz, Noruz, Novruz, Nowroj, Nowrouz and Pateti.

Holiday Status - It is a Restricted Holiday.