Everyday Parsi: Rita Jamshed Kapadia

Our seventh author in the Everyday Parsi series.

Rita Jamshed Kapadia writes:

The sweet smell of flowers, the beautiful aroma of sandalwood and “loban”, the well laid out tables with “karasiyaas” and vases and the soothing chant of the ancient prayers recited by our Dastoorji – these are all wonderful memories of the “Muktad” days, that I remember growing up as a young girl in Ahmedabad.

Today, I am married and live with my husband and children in the US. Living far away from our families, missing their warmth and our traditional Parsi holidays, we try to create a similar Parsi culture in our American home and inculcate the importance of Muktad and Gatha days into our children.

In India, we had a tradition of cleaning the house completely in preparation for the Muktads, which are followed by five days of Gathas, last day of the year – Pateti – being the day of reflection and repentance, and then celebrating Navroze. Offerings of flowers, fruits, daraan and malido were made during the Muktads. We follow the same tradition here also, lighting the divo, offering flowers and fruits in remembrance of the departed.

Back home, we went to the Agiary in the Muktad days. We were taught from an early age to pray during these pious days for our dear departed relatives.

For us, Muktad is a very special time to remember our loved ones, who have departed, cherish the ideals they pursued, emulate them in all the good they did and pray for their souls. Over time the pain of loosing them gives way to the joyful memories and we celebrate their lives.

 

Rita Jamshed Kapadia is a Software Engineer and a Web Developer. One of her hobby site is ParsiCuisine.com and publishing cookbooks.

 

Rita was vice president of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater Boston Area and is the ZAGBA Website Administrator.

 

You can follow the entire series here: Everyday Parsi