‘We bawas live in a different world of our own.’
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