BY CLARA A RODRIGUES
The Parsi community which migrated to Indiafrom Iranin the 10thcentury have a rich history and remarkable culture. Incorporating various regional traits, the Parsi have still managed to maintain their exclusive identity.
Celebrations spell a time when the members of the community come together and have a great time. The New Year of the Parsi’s that is celebrated today is one such occasion.
“The Parsi community celebrates two New Years. The New Year we celebrate today is of the lunar calendar. The other New Year celebrated is of the new calendar called ‘Pateti’, a calendar that was started after the Parsi’s migrated to India. In fact, today, even the Ismalies and khoja communities celebrate ‘Navroz’ says Bangalore-based Perin Ilavia, freelancer and event manager, currently in Goa.
Ms Ilavia explains further, “The Parsi community does not have any major regional differences. After coming to India, the style of our celebrations has undergone a change. On the Parsi New Year day we go to the FireTemplein the morning and offer our personal prayers. Some temples have community prayers too. We get together later for lunch or dinner. Being a close knit community we make it a point to meet each other. The Parsi New Year means new clothes, exchange of gifts and lots of food”.
The mention of food makes one think that the days in the kitchen during these celebrations will definitely be hectic. But Ms Perin informs that the food prepared is not labour intensive. The sumptuous dishes prepared specially for the day include pulao and dal, different types of ‘sev’, curds, fish dishes, etc.
Pheroze Mistri, the conductor of the Goasymphony Orchestra jokes, “Food - that is what we do best.” On a more serious note he says, “After going to the fire temple, dressed in our best clothes, which are usually white, we indulge in an auspicious meal. I have been abroad for the past 40 years and have lost touch with our traditions. But when I do get the opportunity, we do meet up with our community members.”
Over the years a major concern expressed by the Parsi community is their declining numbers, which is not region specific, but rather a problem the world over. A factor that has worked to their disadvantage is the requirement to marry within their religion only. It is an inflexibility which is forcing a new movement. “The younger lot feel some amendments have to be made. It is a worldwide problem. Another problem the Parsi community faces is the general trend of migration to Western and Far East countries as the Parsi youth are highly qualified and there is a lack of opportunities here,” laments Perin.
From sharing a profound respect for the people around them to joining in celebrations of other religious communities, the Parsi community have always integrated themselves wherever they went.
