Photos: New beginnings and ushering in Navroz in Gurugram
Updated On Aug 17, 2019 04:24 PM IST
The Parsi community in India celebrates its new year on August 17. The day is marked with prayers, family get-togethers, traditional food and decorations. What makes Navroz in India different is that it is celebrated twice a year. Zoroastrians across the world celebrate Navroz on March 21, the time of the year that heralds the end of winter and the arrival of spring. In India though, Janshed-i-Navroz is also celebrated on August 17, to mark the new beginning for those who had fled Iran. The name has been derived from King Jamshed, who had first celebrated the day 3,000 years ago.
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Updated on Aug 17, 2019 04:24 PM IST
The Parsi community in India celebrates its new year on August 17. What makes Navroz in India different is that it is celebrated twice a year. Zoroastrians across the world celebrate it on March 21, heralding the end of winter and the arrival of spring. In India, Navroz is also celebrated on August 17, commemorating new beginnings for the diaspora that arrived from Iran centuries ago. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Updated on Aug 17, 2019 04:24 PM IST
The legend is that around the 8th century, those who fled Pars in Iran, convinced King Rana of Gujarat to give them shelter and promised that they would mingle with the local community. Centuries later, Parsis (as they came to be called) are an important part of India’s social fabric. As per estimates, there are about 60 Parsi families in Gurugram, part of a close-knit group. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Updated on Aug 17, 2019 04:24 PM IST
Pateti, which is an integral part of the Parsi culture, comes a day just before Navroz. Parvez Nowrojee said, “There is often a misconception that Pateti is a celebration. It is actually a day of repentance, a prayer for departed souls. It is the last day of Muktad. Pateti is the last day of that prayer, for peace for all souls and then ushering in the New Year with Navroz.” (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Updated on Aug 17, 2019 04:24 PM IST
Shelley Subawalla and her daughter Sharmeen were a busy twosome at their Sector 31 residence, deciding on their outfits for Navroz. While Shelley zeroes in on a red saree with rich Gara embroidery, an heirloom piece, Sharmeen took to a traditional Parsi Jabla, in purple, and was to play the role of a Farohar at the event. Sharmeen said, “I go to practice twice a month and enjoy singing with my friends.” (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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The Parsi population in Delhi-NCR has seen a steady decline. A study done in 2016 by Shernaz Cama, director of UNESCO Parzar Foundation enlisted a number of reasons for dwindling population of Parsis, such as skewed birth-death rate ratio and rigid laws in terms of marriage and divorce, which do not allow a child born to a Parsi mother and non-Parsi father be considered a Parsi. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Navroze Dhondy, however, on a jovial note, said, “We celebrate twice because we are a happy community. Parsis just need an excuse to enjoy, khao, piyo, maja karo.” As the whiff of Rava and Badam filled the air, he elaborated on the scientific aspect of rituals and how the Chalk-Chandan rangoli was actually started to keep away insects and other microorganisms away from the house. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Updated on Aug 17, 2019 04:24 PM IST
Veera makes her special Ravo and Sevai for the festival, along with Rose Falooda and a number of other delicacies. The family, settled in Gurugram for the last 30 years, said they dress up in traditional Parsi attire and visit the Agyari (fire temple) to pray, and celebrate the festival as a community together at the Delhi Parsi Anjuman, located on the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. (Parveen Kumar / HT Photo)
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Updated on Aug 17, 2019 04:24 PM IST