New Delhi:
The Parsi community is celebrating ‘Jamshedi Navroz’ or Pateti on Thursday. The Persian or Iranian New Year or popularly called ‘Nowruz’ is usually celebrated on March 21. The significance behind the festival is that it is celebrated around the time when the days start getting longer. This phenomenon is termed as ‘vernal equinox’.
The vibrant festival was started 3,000 years back by emperor Jamshed, who introduced the new calendar in Persia.The auspicious day falls on the spring equinox – the day when both North and South pole have sunlight making day and night of equal duration.
Geographically, Nowruz marks the commencement of spring in the northern hemisphere of the globe. Every year Parsi families gather together to celebrate and observe the rituals. Technically, the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalises day and night exactly, New Year is celebrated.
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Predominantly celebrated in Central and Western and Middle Eastern part of Asia, Nowruz is generally declared a public holiday in countries like Iraq, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. Showcasing the importance of Nowruz, Iran offers a 14-day long vacation for school children and university goers. Canada has also included Nowroz in the country’s national calendar in 2009.
In India too, Nowruz is celebrated with great fun fare and enthusiasm by the Parsi community.
Pateti is celebrated to gain health, wealth, prosperity, and productivity. Four ‘Fs’ – Fire, Fragrance, Food, and Friendship – play an important role in the celebration. It is the day to relish Parsi cuisine, greet each other and exchange gifts.
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