After 10 days of praying for the departed, the Parsis are all set to welcome their New Year on Tuesday. Celebration time for Parsis has traditional as well as modern influences. This means, waking up early to a rich breakfast that consists of sev (sweet roasted vermicelli) and ravo (semolina).

Members of the Parsi community make use of the occasion to recall how the first few Parsis to reach India landed on the coast of Gujarat. It was then that the local ruler presented before the priestly leaders a vessel filled to the brim with milk, indicating that the land could not accommodate any more people.

To the surprise of everyone, the Parsi head priest responded by slipping some sugar into the milk to signify how the strangers would enrich the local community without displacing them. Since then, the Parsis have inherited many local traditions, including the Gujarati language.

Another custom is that of laying out rangoli on auspicious occasions like New Year. “Bright rangoli designs with dry colours and floral torans (garlands) adorn the entrances of homes. These are customs we learnt from the Gujaratis,” says Rukshana Khambatta, who made offering of a few sandalwood sticks for the fire that burns in the agiary.

But most non-Parsis, more than anything, are interested in the community’s culinary exploits. The popular delicacies served on hotel menus this New Year are patra ni macchi (steamed fish in banana leaves), lagan nu custard (wedding custard), dhansaak (mixed vegetable daal), faarcha (fried chicken) and akoori (scrambled masala egg).
Khetwadi resident Abaan Rohinton Irani knows what is on her menu this festive season. “Lunch will be a nice, hearty meal of dhan dal, mutton boti and fried fish,” she says. But for many the day is a time to socialise, interact and even party together.

While the elders like going for Gujarati plays, the youth like going out for dinner and parties. For 21-year-old Jamshed Readymoney, Parsi New Year is that time of the year when he can meet other members of his community, which is dwindling gradually. “On this day, you get a chance to mingle around with young bawi women at clubs,” he says.

BBC Day in Pictures

President of India

The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in her message on the occasion of the Parsi New Year, which is being celebrated tomorrow, has said: -

“On the occasion of Navroz, I convey my greetings and good wishes to all the people of our country and especially my Parsee brothers and sisters.

May this festival heralding the New Year bring happiness and prosperity to all and strengthen our commitment to harmony and universal brotherhood."

 

Vice-President of India

“I greet the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of ‘Navroj’, which marks the beginning of the Parsi New Year.

Navroj is celebrated with devotion, traditional gaiety and fervous to usher in a peaceful and prosperous New Year. The mood of rejoicing transcends all barriers reflecting the spirit of harmony and brotherhood that characterises our composite culture.

May the New Year bring peace, prosperity and happiness in our lives”.

Besides visiting friends and relatives, preparation of sweets like suterfenis, ‘jalebis’ and aawa fish topped the agenda of Parsis here.

“Pateti is special as we come together with friends and family to celebrate. Also we cook our special Parsi dishes on this day,” N Mody, a resident of South Mumbai, said.

The New Year celebrations included visits to the fire temples, exchanging sumptuous sweets and relishing a feast.

During the 10-day run-up to the Parsi New Year, Parsis remembered their departed family members, the souls of whom they believe, visit them during the 10-day period.

“The New Year is ushered in with great excitement and jubilation wishing all our family members and friends ’saal mubarak’ (Happy New Year) on the phone or in person”, Mody said.

original article here

Mumbai, August 19: It may not be accompanied by public ceremonies or street dancing, but Pateti or Parsi New Year is a ‘Mumbai’ kind of day. It’s a day every Zoroastrian looks forward to, and Mumbai loves its Parsis.

While a visit to the fire temple and a groaning table are part of the occasion, to discover more about the family festivities, it’s best to crash your Parsi friends’ homes. Actor Nauheed Cyrusi’s is where we’re headed.

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“When I was growing up, it was a ritual with us to go out as a family and watch a Parsi or Gujarati play,” she says. Although now her sister is married and away, this day still remains a day for the family. “However busy I may be, I go out with my parents for dinner and make sure to meet the extended family too,” she adds. Most Zoroastrians in India follow the Shehanshahi, or the Parsi calendar, and not the Iranian date book. “My mother is Parsi, but my father’s Irani; we even celebrate the Irani New Year on March 21,” she smiles.

The special meal of the day consists of traditional Parsi dishes like pulao dal, sali boti and patra ni machchi. “Fish is my favourite. I make sure my mother makes patra ni machchi and a special cake,” says Cyrusi.

Original article here

Putting aside contentious issues like identity and the community’s dwindling numbers, Parsis prepare to celebrate the New Year.

As this year comes to an end, my ruminations and research led to enlightenment through an article on the Parsi DNA (not the newspaper I write for, but the real thing - double helix and all) that I read on the Internet.

For the past few years I have seen my generally genial community at each others throats over the question of who is not a Parsi. If my mother is a Parsi but my father is not, I am not. If my father is one but my mother isn’t, I have the privilege of acceptance. If both my parents are born Parsis, I am a true son of the community. Why this difference?

Scholars sought to answer it with scriptures, some said ‘preservation of the pure bloodline emanating from the Persian kings!’ Sociologists blamed patriarchal society for the discrimination. Everyone had an opinion to expound.

History has it that 1,300 years ago, 120 Parsis escaped religious persecution and sailed in two boats to India from Persia. Legends say 120 men landed on the coast of Gujarat and were accepted in the land of Jadiv Rana.

No women? How did we rise to become almost one lakh strong and spread across the globe? Intermarriages? Heaven forbid the thought and God help any that suggest it!

Informing ourselves about our lineage may heal the wounds which fester in the soul of our community. Even genealogical tests to determine purity of lineage have brought mixed results. However, some knowledge of our genealogy could help bring us together in Yezdgerdi 1377.

Navroz commonly known as the Parsi New year not only marks the beginning of a new year but also symbolizes the struggle of good against evil. “The celebration begins ten days before the actual new year where there are sessions at the Agiary to pray for the peace of the departed souls”, says Jimmy Mistry.

The day before the New Year is called Pateti, when people celebrate by getting together with friends over dinner. Jimmy Mistry along with his wife, two daughters and a son, get together regardless of their schedules, to have a quiet family lunch.

The festivities begin in the morning when the girls huddle by the front door to assist their mother in making intricate designs, much like rangoli patterns, using stencils and traditional chalk. “My daughters love making these designs and labour over their work”, says a doting Delna Mistry. Close family relatives then pour in to wish each other after which the family proceeds to the Agiary to offer prayers. Priests perform a thanks giving prayer in the temple called Jashan and the congregation offers sandalwood to the Holy Fire. They then wish each other ‘Sal Mubarak’.

“Going to the Agiary is central to celebration of the day; the other custom which unfortunately is dying out due to time constraints is that of visiting family and friends at their homes and wishing them. Yet Jimmy and I make it a point to do some visiting on that day. However, what does happen is getting together at a restaurant for dinner; which admittedly is a lot easier, says Delna Mistry.

Food is a very significant part of any Parsi festival. Delna varies her menu to fit in the favourites of each member of her family. This usually means a whole lot of snacks. “It is customary to prepare the sev-dahi. The preparation consists of vermicelli with sweetened curd sprinkled with a lot of kishmish and kaju. There is also Rabo or Ravo which is made. It is suji cooked with milk and sugar. My children enjoy both these dishes, so I make it a point to include this in the menu of the day. I also make an accompaniment called Patrel which is similar to Patra made by the Gujaratis. For the main course, there is Fried fish, which is very auspicious, hence has to be made. It also happens to be Jimmy’s favourite. Sali-boti which is a preparation of mutton pieces, prepared with thick tomato gravy. We add in dried apricot pieces, making it a very sweet and spicy sort of gravy and potato slices or are also added on top. You can also make it with chicken pieces but I prefer mutton”, explains Delna.

The vegetables are eaten with rotis or the traditional Dhan-Dal, which is a simple preparation of dal rice, and also customary to Navroz.

Delna assures us that the family does not subscribe to the same menu, there are a lot of variants; for example, “The vegetables would include tarapori pactio, which is dry Bombay duck or bombil. Then there is the famous Patrani Macchi, in which the fish is coated with chutney, swaddled in banana leaves, and baked. We also have something known as Dal ni pori, which is a version of the puran poli, only thicker and a big hit with my kids”, says Delna fondly.

Original article here

Food, fun and farehghat. Three words that get every Parsi in the mood. Especially on Parsi New Year. After atoning for the wrongs done in the previous year, through prayer, on Pateti, the bawajis begin their New Year with much gusto.

Read: a visit to the fire temple (Agiary), a lunch complete with the auspicious sev-dahi, palao-dar, marghi na farcha… the works, and of course a Gujarati natak (play) where the lovable community takes potshots at itself. The legah-clad uncles and gown-wearing aunties don their best and newest clothes and step out in style. Typical bawa style…

Jimmy Mistry

Being so involved with the mobed (priest) community, I started my New Year celebrations over the weekend itself with the mobeds. I will spend today with family and friends, doing everything that’s traditionally Parsi.

Bit of Bawa:

Two things make me quintessentially bawa — my values and the typically Parsi attitude of immediate bonding with a fellow Parsi. There is this instant connection that takes place when two Parsis meet!

Cyrus Broacha

Parsi New Year is the only day of the year that I go to the fire temple! I take the materialistic part of Pateti/ New Year — the food — more seriously than the spiritual part. We ordered lots of food from Katy Dalal days ago.

Bit of Bawa:

Little things that bother others don’t bother me. We bawas live in a different world of our own. First comes our love for life’s pleasures, then love for our work and third, our love for people.

Tanaaz Lall

It’s going to be a traditional New Year — Agiary in the morning, a heavy lunch with family and since we bawas love to eat, dinner at a restaurant in the night.

Bit of Bawa:

I have the ability to laugh at myself, like most bawas do.

Pervez Damania

Me and my family make it a point to go to the fire temple; then it’s lunch at home with the family.

Bit of Bawa:

My undying love for food for sure and the fact that I religiously follow all bawa customs!

Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal

I don’t practice organised religion, so today is not just about offering prayers. For me, it’s more about being with friends and people I love.

Bit of Bawa:

My love for food makes me a pucci bawi.

Delnaaz Paul

If I’m not working, New Year is spent with family over lunch, natak and dinner. I especially look forward to wearing new clothes.

Bit of Bawa:

My atrocious Hindi makes it evident that I’m a bawi! And of course, I’m a die-hard non-vegetarian.

Dinyar Contractor

Pateti celebrations are a ritual. Fire temple in the morning, lunch with family, a Parsi natak and then

dinner with friends.

Bit of Bawa:

I’m sweet-hearted, honest and gullible, that makes me typically bawa.

Shireen Gandhy

New Year is like a social occasion, complete with new clothes and lots of food. After going to the Agiary, we have a sev-dahi nu breakfast; lunch is a set menu of marghi na farcha and biryani.

Bit of Bawa:

I love Parsi food.

Parizaad Kolah Marshall

Every year, on this auspicious day, I go to the fire temple after which I spend quality time with my family and dear friends. We indulge in delicious Parsi food. Today, however, will be different as I am in Singapore and Koh Samui with my husband.

Bit of Bawa:

Like most Parsis, I’m simple and laid back at heart, but a go-getter in my professional life. We try to excel in whatever we do.

Perizaad Zorabian

Since I am a hardcore irun jungli, I celebrate New Year on March 21st, but since my father-in-law is Parsi, we will be having a nice, quiet family dinner… as quiet as a Parsi-Irani dinner can be! It will be fun as its my first New Year as a married woman.

Bit of Bawa:

I love to indulge in the Irani v/s Parsi war of being an irun jungli as opposed to a ‘Oh so proper bawi’! But basically, we are the same at the core — mad, fun, honest, no nonsense and we live life kingsize!

Original article here

August 20th is the first day of the Parsi New Year. A time of happiness and rejoicing for all members of the small Parsi community, of which Shirrin and I are a part.

This is one of my favorite days of the years. Memories of this day right through childhood included visits to the fire temple, wearing “new” clothes, receiving monetary gifts from grandparents, eating great food and going to parsi plays or “nataks” in the evening and to dinner thereafter.

Living in a Parsi colony meant that everyone did the same and it was a “jalsa”. It was one day where you would see the whole Parsi community out in full force, in every theater or playhouse in town. Every restaurant would have entire families of Parsis chattering away, drinking, eating, and greeting all and sundry around even if they did not know them.

It did not matter that there would be rain or shine, we would be out in force.

Over the last few years, being in NYC, away from family, on this particular day, sucks. There is something beautiful and inherent in celebrating festivals with family, that can never be substituted. There is a Zoroastrian Association here in NYC and they do hold a function in the evening, but its not the same.

On this occasion of the New Year we wish all our readers a very Happy New Year….one filled with peace, prosperity, harmony and love.

In his message, Mr Krishna said ”The contribution of the Parsi community to the development and progress of India is immeasurable.

Members of the peace-loving community were in the forefront of the nation’s freedom struggle. Again, they were the forerunners, who laid the foundations for commerce and industry in the country. The nation owes so much to the small community of Parsis in India”.

”The New Year day provides all of us an opportunity to reflect on the immortal message of ‘Good Thought, Good Word and Good Deed’, given by Prophet Zoroaster ”, the Governor said in his message.

Pune, August 18: Saal mubarak”, “Happy New Year” or even ” Pateti mubarak” are the greetings that will reverberate in every Parsi home this Monday. The imminence of Pateti or the Parsi New Year has yet again induced exultation amongst the city’s dikras who are gearing up to ensure that their new year is celebrated with much fervour. From visiting their revered fire temples, exchanging sumptuous sweets, meeting up with kith and kin to ending the day with a feast, Pateti, like every year, promises to be a happy day.

Take for instance, Yasmin Taraporewala, who commences his day with phone calls to near and dear ones, only so he can wish them peace and happiness. This routine is invariably followed by visiting the agyari for prayers. “Once I finish offering my prayers at the temple, I go to meet my relatives and exchange sweets that include Suterfenis, Jalebis and Mawa Fish,” says Taroporewala.

The husband-wife duo, Naushir and Banoo Commissariat, too, rejoice on similar lines. “For us, Pateti is special as we come together with friends and family to celebrate. Also we cook our special Parsi dish, Dhansak, on this day,” explains Naushir.

So when you ask the elders about Pateti, you will be told about family get-togethers, prayers and exchange of sweets.On the contrary, pop the same question to a youngster and undoubtedly, they will tell you about the tantalising food.

In the day, Khodu Irani, a pub owner, visits the agyari as he feels that it is a part of his religious upbringing, but what he really and most importantly looks forward to is the night’s grandeur- the feast. ” Well, my family and I go to this Parsi restaurant called Zamu’s every year, to feast on Fish Patia, Mora Dal and Chawal,” relates an exhilarated Irani.

Zamu’s, normally known for serving sizzlers, adds a special menu every year, especially for Pateti. Zamu’s owner, Zal Cursetji talks about the luscious dishes that are served at his restaurant for not just the Parsis to indulge in, but all those who would love to be a part of the Pateti celebration. Says Cursetji, “We serve specialties like Patrani Machi, Chicken Farcha, Kid Ghosh, Pulao Dal and among other delicacies.”

So while Pateti may be all about celebrations for most, model Viraf Pate has his own story to tell. “During my growing up years, I would look forward to Pateti for one reason that most kids studying in Parsi schools would agree with—holiday.”

But that’s only part of the story, for the happiness and great mood that prevails on this day has much to do with the hope of fresh starts just like a New Year’s Day should.

Original article here