What is Navroz? All you need to know about Parsi New Year 2017

The Parsi community is celebrating 'Jamshedi Navroz' or Pateti on Thursday. Pateti is celebrated on the eve of Parsi New Year. Nowruz, also spelled as Navroz, is the Iranian New Year celebrated by ethnic Iranian people. Pateti is observed on the eve of Navroze, is a day of penance where one repents for their sins.

What is Navroz ?

It marks the first day of the first month in the Iranian calendar. Nowruz is the day of the vernal equinox, and marks the beginning of spring. It usually occurs on March 21 or the previous or following day, depending on where it is observed.

Why is it celebrated?

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.

How do they celebrate?

A variety of dishes is prepared on the day including fish, chicken, mutton, daan and desserts. Besides celebration, Pateti is dedicated to clean and purify the mind and start a new year with love and peace. On this day, Parsis wear traditional clothes and visit fire temple also known as ‘Agiary'. There is a tradition of offering milk, flowers, fruits, sandalwood to the sacred fire.

Parsis in India ?

It's estimated that there are 60,000 Parsis in India - half as many as there were in the 1940s. For every Parsi born, four die. The decline in numbers is blamed on late marriage, no marriage, or mixed marriage with non-Parsis.

Five Billionaire Parsis of India

Parsis are one of the most successful minority and migrant groups in the world. Ratan Tata, Pallonji Mistry, Nusli Wadia, Adi Godrej and Cyrus Poonawalla are some of the families that have made billions building the backbone of industry.

OneIndia News