Happy Navroze to all

Today is the day (21 March 2013) when the dwindling but enterprising Parsi community celebrates its New Year or Navroze. Here Monaz Mevawala (Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga) clears that Navroze is celebrated more by Iranian Zoroastrians rather than the Parsi Zoroastrians (The Zoroastrian community is divided into the above two sects). Monaz also informs us of one more aspect of Navroze saying, “The legend suggests that Parsi Godman Jamshed had the power to see the future in wine and hence we drink wine on this day to celebrate.” So can you see the future in your wine? “I will surely drink this alcoholic beverage later this evening so even if don’t see the future, I will still be nicely happy and high (smiles).” On the other hand, Viraf Phiroz Patel (Kismat) says, “The origins of Navroze are more seasonal as it falls on the Venereal Equinox (21st March) when both the day and the night are of equal duration. This makes us value the importance of both balance and change. After visiting the Fire Temple, I would get back to work.” He does not think that he will be able to put his hair down and party in the evening for most of his Parsi friends are out of town. “Hence the best I can do is to call them and exchange a few bad bawa jokes,” Viraf quips. Last seen in Welcome - Baazi Mehmaan-Nawaazi ki, Bigg Boss fame Delnaaz Irani says, “The best part of Navroze, which literally means the new day, is the food. My mom would prepare a sumptuous spread of all kinds of fruits (water melon) dishes and Iranian dry fruits. We would gorge on them after paying obeisance to the Fire God. Then relatives also come over, we eat, enjoy and make merry.” Comic man Cyrus Sahukar avers, “It is very good for the New Year to fall three months after the Gregorian calendar’s New Year (1st Jan). So if somebody’s first three months of the year have been bad, he or she can have a fresh start. The best thing about Navroze is that all of us Parsis are on our best behaviour and don’t indulge into a sarcastic talk with each other.” Here he adds, “One big thing which separates Parsis from other communities is that we take digs at our own self. This is needed for we are full of idiosyncrasies and follies. I myself have to do one big silly thing a day at the end of which I can either have a hearty laugh at myself or cry out load.” Observes Rushad Rana (Amrit Manthan), “This day that heralds the coming of the spring season gives an opportunity to all of us to reflect on the past and try to avoid repeating the same mistakes all over again. The rat race of the present time makes it very difficult to follow the basic precepts of our faith, that is good thoughts, good action and good speech.” Rushad and his family have simple Parsi delicacy of rice and dal along with fish fries. “This staple Parsi food which my mom cooks are all of our liking,” he laughs. Happy Navroze to everyone!!!