Navroz in India and Pakistan
The Southeast Asian Parsi Celebration is called Jamshedi Navroz in memory of the mythical king Jamshed. The exhibition displays celebrations, food, & rituals from India & Pakistan.
What is Navroz?
Since the UNESCO Declaration, the Spring festival of the Vernal Equinox attracts attention from all communities & regions of the world. Honouring and giving thanks to all aspects of nature is key to celebrations in India and Pakistan.
Haft Seen Description by Parzor FoundationOriginal Source: Parzor Foundation
Navroze Haft Seen Table
Seven items with the sound S/ Sh decorate the Haft Seen table as can be seen here. In 2024 Nowruz 3762 according to the ancient Calendar will coincide with the Equinox at Maku in Iran, 6.36 am local time.
Meeting and Greeting
The ‘Haft Seen’ are also linked with the Seven Amesha Spenta to ultimately find the Creator through Wisdom & Self Realisation. Fariborz Rahnamoon tells us we should - ‘Use all our senses but use them with wisdom’.
The Parsis of India & Pakistan may be separated by a national boundary but their celebrations of Navroz are almost identical. Parzor’s picture depicts a home Atash while Candles decorate the Navroz table in Karachi at the home of NIloufer & Shahveer Noshirwani.
March 2023 Parsi General Hospital, ‘A group of children along with their Zoroastrian Piano teacher Rashna Gazdar, did a small performance at the Hospital as part of the Navroze celebration’.. Courtesy Farhanaz Marker, Karachi, Pakistan
Meher Noshirwani celebrates a grand Navroz to which all friends & family are welcome in Karachi. Courtesy Meher Noshirwani, Karachi, Pakistan
Kermin Parakh shares Haft Seen celebrations at the Bai Virbaiji Soparivala High School, BVS Parsi High School at the end of the Covid pandemic, Karachi. Courtesy BVS Parsi High School, Karachi
The Indian custom of the Tiko or the Kunku Tika has been appropriated in a happy multicultural amalgam.
Navroze Chalk (2009) by Vanshika SinghOriginal Source: Vanshika Singh
Chalk Decorations in India
Celebrations of Navroz in the Twin Cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad, India. Chowk is lime, an antiseptic which is meant to keep away diseases and insects from entering over the lintel of a home. This an ancient custom from Persia, is now continued by the Parsis of India.
Parvez Chenoy, Hyderabad
Parvez Chenoy of Hyderabad has been the face of Parzor in many exhibitions. Here she shares her ideas of a Deccani New Year.
Navroz has become a popular celebration at homes & in public spaces across New Delhi. Villie Aria, originally from Iran and the late Farida Variava are Parzor volunteers who have carried our message across the country. Courtesy Ashdeen Lilaowala & Parzor
Ashdeen Lilaowala’s Navroz table has become famous across India, friends gather at his home to bring in the Spring with food, fun & blessings of the Haft Seen Table. Courtesy Ashdeen & Maryam Papi
Dal ni Pori - Parsi Sweet Delicacy by Parzor FoundationOriginal Source: Parzor Foundation
Special Food - Dal-Ni-Pori
The Parsi speciality Dal-ni-Pori is a sweet made with lentils & pastry, relished on Navroz. Here it is offered with fresh fruit, Indian sweets as well as nuts & pomegranates from the Persian tradition. A traditional Parsi Ses symbolizing family unity enhances the scene.
Newspaper clipping 3 generations (2009) by Dotivala FamilyOriginal Source: Dotivala Family
Navroz in Jamshedpur
For the ten years of the ICH Nomination, Parzor has sent Reports of the growth of the popularity of Navroz ever since UNESCO declared it as a Heritage of Humanity. Here newspaper Reports are presented from Jamshedpur, the only city named after a Parsi. Courtesy: Dotivala family
Mahrukh Chichgar of the Yazdi Karanjia Theatre family of Surat shares her Navroz Table, Navroz in her Kitchen as well as eggs painted by the children of her home. Courtesy Mahrukh Chichgar, Surat
Parsi Natak by Parzor FoundationOriginal Source: Parzor Foundation
A Parsi Natak- Parsi Theatre
Parsi celebrations of Navroz include a Natak or Play in Parsi Gujarati. Yazdi Karanjia performs Behram -ni-Sasu at New Delhi with his family troupe.
The largest ever Exhibition on the Zoroastrians was the Everlasting Flame International Programme, 2016. The inauguration of the Exhibition Threads of Continuity was on 21st March 2016. Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla & Penaz Masani, Rati Godrej & Shernaaz Engineer, household figures in India are seen in the pictures. Courtesy - Parzor Archives
Creator: Dr. Shernaz Cama, Mahtab Irani & Neeru Negi, Parzor Foundation
Sadbav Channel, India
Parzor Archives
Fariborz Rahnamoon, USA
Niloufer & Shahveer Noshirwani, Karachi
Farhanaz Marker, Karachi
Meher Noshirwani, Karachi
Karim Hashwani for Kermin Parakh, BVS Parsi High School, Karachi
Ashdeen Lilaowala, New Delhi
Dr. Noshir & Niloufer Shroff, New Delhi
Vanshika Singh, Parzor
Maryam Papi for Ashdeen, Delhi
Dotivala family, Jamshedpur, Parzor Archives
Mahrukh Chichgar, Surat
Roxane Mazda, Dahanu
Parzor Archives, Courtesy Yezdi Karanjia, Theatre Group, Surat
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