Hyderabad's Parsis ring in Navroz!

A tightly-knit and small community, the Parsis are known for their distinct culture, traditions and cuisine. As they usher in their New Year or Navroz, Parsis from across the city talk about what the festival means to them.

A festival of prosperity and harmony
Danishi Bhagat, a student, shares that she loves eating authentic Parsi cuisine like Patra ni Machchi, mori dal chawal and Jinga no patiyo, which is yellow dal rice and prawn gravy. Apart from this, Danishi says that she enjoys drinking Falooda. She shares, “My friends and I would get to bunk school on every Navroz, and our grandparents used to give us money to spend. Each year is special for us. We learn a lot from our elders and just being with your loved ones makes it even more special. The best thing about this festival is the prosperity and harmony it brings into all our lives.”\

A time to socialise
Nazneen Irani Bharucha, an MNC employee, shares that her favourite dish this festival is Sagan ni sev/ravo (sweet) with which she starts her day. The celebrations include a delicious lunch with the whole family and recollecting all the good memories of the past. “My relatives and cousins come to visit us from different cities; we visit the Fire Temple for morning prayers. In today’s world, everybody is busy with their own lives, so the New Year is the best time to meet and greet and relax with your loved ones,” she adds. 

Times are changing
Social worker Gulshan Gev Bamboat says that Navroz brings many memories with it. She recalls that during her childhood, her mother and grandmother would make sweets and distribute it to the whole neighbourhood. But today, says Gulshan, they get mithai from the shop and distribute it to friends. She adds, “We make a special dish called Dhandar and serve it with a patio, which is generally prawn or fish. We also serve mithhu dahi (sweet curd). We go to the Agiyari (Fire Temple) and in the evening, we have a get together and a feast.”

Observing traditions and culture
Beyniaz Edulji explains that they have a ten-day long festival during which they pay homage to their ancestors. Her family in fact, keeps a silver vase with fresh flowers at home in memory of loved ones who have passed on. Beyniaz shares, “The Parsi community in India has shrunk with time. But what we miss in numbers, we make up in gusto and pomp. Also, we are foodies, so our festival revolves around food. On Navroz, we decorate our homes with toran (flowers), and make the rangoli, which is different from the traditional rangolis that others make. We have a stencil for the tangelo and it has many geometrical designs. Fish is considered very auspicious and hence, you will find the design of fish in front of most Parsi houses. In the evening, we all meet at the Zoroastrian Club for the jashn.”

Arjun Erigaisi Chess GrandmasterA gala time
Zarine Irani, an employee at an MNC says that she loves eating sali gosht, custard and pudding during this festival. She adds, “We hardly have two festivals, so Navroz is something that we all look forward to. We have a gathering at night which my family never misses. They distribute awards at the jashn and our lovely Parsi cuisine is served. We also play a lot of games and have a gala time this day, every year.”

An auspicious occasion
Khushnum Hansotia, assistant manager at an MNC shares that she prepares for Navroz much in advance. She cleans her house and starts making snacks for this day. Also, she decorates her house with rangoli and flowers. “I love dressing up today and we visit the Fire Temple in the morning,” she says, adding, “In the evening, we visit the Zoroastrian Club where friends and families come together and celebrate the auspicious occasion.”