The 21st of March this year 2012 is a reason to celebrate for more than just one sect of people of India.
Being a day marking the spring equinox – the 21st of March is Jamshed-e-Navroz – the first day of the Zoroastrian year and the beginning of the Iranian Calendar and this day is considered to be Holy even by the Sufis, the Ismailis, the Alawites, the Alevis, and the Bahaiians worldwide and is also the basis for the Jewish festival – ‘Purim’.
Also referred to as the ‘Persian New Year’ and the ‘Parsi New Year’, the ‘Navroz’ festival has been celebrated by the Parsis for about 3000 years. Parsis worship Fire in the Fire Temples and they offer sandalwood sticks to the fire during a special thanksgiving Prayer called the ‘Jashan’. When inside the Temple, Parsis cover their head with caps or sarees until they step out of the Temple which marks the end of the Temple ceremony when they greet each other – ‘Saal Mubarak’!
On Navroz, Parsis offer to their guests – the ‘Falooda’ – a sweet milky beverage with a dominant flavour of rose syrup and other ingredients such as the vermicelli, basil seeds, jelly pieces and topped with ice cream – an Indian version of the original Persian dessert – ‘Faloodeh’.
‘Spring Cleaning’ or the complete cleaning of the house is done by every Parsi household just before the Navroz festival and the house is adorned with auspicious symbols such as stars, birds, fish and butterflies.
And on the day of Navroz, Parsis wear new and best clothes and gold or silver kustis and caps set up a ‘Haft Sin’ Table comprising 7 items symbolizing the seven elements which are of great importance to the Parsis –
o Candles - symbolizing the Fire.
o Mirror – symbolizing the sky.
o Apple – symbolizing the earth.
o Rose Water - symbolizing water.
o Barley sprouts or sabzeh wheat - symbolizing the plants.
o Goldfish - symbolizing the animals.
o Painted eggs symbolizing the humans and fertility.
Parsis also keep dry fruits, honey, milk, sheerbeeranj (sweet) and sugar on the Haft Sin Table.
Besides these, it is customary to even keep on the ‘Haft Sin Table’ the sacred ‘Avesta’ Texts of Zoroastrianism and the ‘Gathas’ – a collection of 17 hymns which were composed by the Founder of Zoroastrianism – the great Prophet Zarathustra – before the 3rd millennium BCE in Greater Iran.
When friends or family visit a Parsi family on Navroz, the Lady of the House plays a pivotal role and leads them to the Haft Sin Table and offers them the eats from the Table.
Navroz evenings are typically spent in fun and frolic and watching the traditional ‘Navroz Naatak’ which are Parsi Plays revolving around the themes of comedy and thrillers. Though not very conspicuous, the Parsi Theatre in India has a strong and ever-growing fanfare. Some of the popular Parsi Plays in India are ‘Keku is my King Kong’; ‘Zabaan Sambhalke’; and ‘Jhan Jhov Tanh Baira’. And Dorab Mehta, Pheroze Antia, Homi Tavadia and Adi Marzban are reckoned with as the greatest Parsi dramatists.
Check the local theatre guides for schedule on Parsi Plays in town and go for it! You would not only get to see some of the most hilarious Parsi Plays ever….you would also see the entire Parsi community converge in the theatre with their friends and family – all decked up and having fun.
But before that, ensure you greet your Parsi friends, neighbours and colleagues – ‘Saal Mubarak’ on the 21st of March.
