Happy Navroze : Persian New Year

Navroz Mubarak my Parsee and Persian friend across the world.

It was celebrated by the followers of Zoroastrianism in Persia (now Iran), who migrated to places like Gujarat in India in the 7th century owing to the Islamic invasion.

The day is also referred to as Jamshedi Navroz after the Persian King Jamshed who founded the Parsi calendar.

Nowruz—which means “new day”—is a holiday marking the arrival of spring and the first day of the year in Iran, whose solar calendar begins with the vernal equinox. Nowruz has been celebrated in Iran and the Persian diaspora for more than 3,000 years.

Navroz is New Year celebrations on March 21 every year for Parsis, followers of Zoroastrianism and various sects of Muslim, both Shias and Sunnis. In India it is known as Jamshed Navroz. Participate in the festivities of Navroz with exchanging sweets, gifts and blessings. Navroz marks the first day of the month of Farvardin on the Iranian calendar. Navroz comes from the Persian words 'Nav' meaning new and 'roz' meaning day, so it literally translates to New Day. Interestingly, while Navroz in March is celebrated throughout the world, in India, people celebrate it twice a year.

Ahura Mazda is the God they worship. They believe in the existence of one invisible God, called Ahura Mazda. They worship their God in the form of fire, which symbolizes light. The holiest place for Parsis is the village of Udvada in Gujarat, India. The Parsis believe that fire, water, air and earth are pious elements, to be preserved. Balban introduced the famous Persian festival of Nowruz in India to impress the nobles and people with his wealth and power. The festival is a New Year celebration of Spring Equinox.

Newroz is the Kurdish celebration of the Persian new year holiday “Nowruz.” Kurdish Newroz coincides with the Spring Equinox, and is a festival celebrating the beginning of spring. Over the years, Newroz has come to represent new beginnings, as well as an opportunity to support the Kurdish cause. For Shia Muslims, Navroz means nazr or religious offerings both at homes and at Imambaras. This year, the colour for Navroz being black, all sweets and fruit eaten will preferably be black in colour.

Their meals are rich and end with sweet delicacies like Ravo (sweet semolina pudding) Sev (browned sweetened vermicelli), Falooda and ice cream, (Rose Milk with vermicelli and ice-cream), Dar ni Pori (sweetened lentils stuffed in a light pastry) and Khajoor ni ghari (sweetened dates stuffed in a light pastry).” Parsi Agyari has Fire temple as they worship Agni or fire and the eternal flame keeps burning in the heart of Dar-e-Meher or the fire temple which is the sacred place of worship of the Parsi community here in India.

Parsis are highly successful business community from the famous Indian names like Tata group and the other two of the richest Parsi families–are the Mistrys and the Wadias– highly respected Parsi business community from India.

#1: Tata Head: Ratan Tata Net worth: $570 Million ( Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Tetley Tea, Tata Steel)

# 2 : Mistry: Head: Pallonji Mistry (father of Cyrus Mistry) Net worth: $15 billion Property development, construction, energy Companies: SP Real Estate, SP Infra, Eureka Forbes

# 3: Wadia: Current leader: Nusli Wadia Net worth: $3 billion Textiles, property, food, health

Companies: Bombay Dyeing, Britannia, Go Airlines

In the seasonal calendar, Zoroaster's death anniversary falls on December 26. Khordad Sal, which celebrates the birth anniversary of Zoroaster. May this Parsi New Year give us Happiness. “Sending my warm wishes for a happy Navroz! May the day bring you good fortune and success. May God bless you today and forever.” Cheers!