Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted the Parsi community on ‘Navroz’, its new year, and hoped that the year ahead would “further the spirit of happiness and harmony.”
“Navroz Mubarak to the Parsi community! May the coming year further the spirit of happiness and harmony. I pray that everyone’s dreams and aspirations are fulfilled,” Modi tweeted.
The miniscule Parsi community, accounting to about 68,000 worldwide, celebrates ‘Navroz’ with religious fervor, traditional pomp and feasting.
The day starts with an early morning bath and prayers, purifying the homes by burning incense, and donning traditional outfits specially prepared for the occasion.
The families then visit an agiary or a holy Fire Temple to pray for the departed souls, ending the 10 days ritual of remembering the ancestors.
This is usually followed by a special lunch with the menu comprising delicious red fish patia, salli-marghi, salli-boti, yellow-dal rice, Parsi style chicken and mutton biryanis, washed down with a variety of beverages and topped off by a selection of custards, sweetmeats, ice-creams and cakes.
The Parsi community features in Unesco’s list of endangered communities and special efforts are being made both within the community and outside made to increase their numbers and save from possible extinction.