Know how Parsi New Year Nowruz is celebrated, its history

Parsi New Year, also known as Nowruz, is celebrated on the first day of the Farvardin, the first month in the Zoroastrian calendar, also known as the Shahenshahi calendar. The first day of Parsi calendar generally falls on either March 20th or 21st each year. The word "Nowruz" means "new day" in Persian and marks the beginning of spring and the rebirth of nature.

Although the Parsi New Year is observed across the globe on March 21, around the time of the vernal equinox, Parsis in India use the Shahenshahi calendar, which does not account for leap years. Due to this, India celebrates the Parsi New Year roughly 200 days after the rest of the globe. Parsis also observe Navroz in the month of August.

What's the history and significance of Nowruz:
Nowruz originated in ancient Persia and was celebrated as a Zoroastrian festival. Zoroastrianism is an ancient monotheistic religion that was founded by the prophet Zoroaster in the 6th century BCE. The festival was originally celebrated as a religious event to honor the sun god, Mithra, and to mark the beginning of the new solar year.


Over time, Nowruz evolved into a secular celebration and became a cultural festival celebrated by people of different faiths, ethnicities, and nationalities in many parts of the world.

It was one of the most important religions in the ancient world until the emergence of Islam in the seventh century.

During the Islamic invasion of Persia, several Persians fled to India and Pakistan. Since then, their festivals have become a part of Indian festivities and are celebrated by people from diverse cultures.

For followers of Zoroastrian philosophy, this day represents the time when everything in the universe is completely renewed. Jamshed, a monarch of the ancient Sasanian Empire, is credited with introducing the Parsi calendar. Hence, this holiday is also called Jamshed-i-Nouroz.

How Nowzuz is celebrated:
On this occasion, Parsi families across India, especially in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat as they have a sizeable Parsi population, visit the holy temples to offer prayers.

It is a time for families and friends to come together, exchange gifts, and share a special meal. It is also a time for cleaning and decorating homes, wearing new clothes, and making resolutions for the new year.

They also prepare traditional Parsi dishes like Farcha, Berry Pulao, and Jardaloo Chicken, among several other things. Parsis also believe it to be a day of remittance of sins and a time for repentance.