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 Navroz is one of the well known festivals in India. It is prevalent among the people of the Parsee community and is celebrated with great pomp and splendor. It is a traditional Parsee festival and is held to mark the Iranian New Year.
Navroz Festival takes place on the first day of the Zoroastrian year. During the festival, the Parsees offer traditional rituals and celebrate among themselves. The festival is held every year on the 21st of March. The people visit the fire temples and pay their homage. Traditional meals are cooked and family members have them together.
On the day of the Navroz festival, the houses are cleaned and the walls and entrance of the house are painted with bright colors. People of all age groups take a bath early and wear new clothes. The women adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. The doors are adorned with garlands of roses and jasmine. The steps are adorned with Rangoli made of beautiful colors.
Traditional food is cooked to mark the festival of Navroz. Parsee food is a combination of West Asian and Indian cuisine. Rava is a popular dish that is prepared with sooji, milk and sugar and mixed with rose water and grated nutmegs. Another dish is fried vermicelli which is cooked in sugar syrup and mixed with almonds and raisins.
To celebrate the festival, people meet each other and exchange greetings. Young people pay their respects to the elders. People exchange gifts and sweets among each other. The Navroz festival in fact brings to light the rich heritage and culture of the Parsee community. It also portrays the brotherhood and cordial harmony between the people of the community.
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