Nowruz-The Persian New Year

 Nowruz (Persian: نوروز, pronounced [nowˈɾuːz]; lit. 'new day') is the Persian-language term for the day of the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year.

Nowruz 2022: Nowruz or Navroz, the Iranian New Year that marks the beginning of the spring season, is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm among various Parsi communities across the world including India. The word 'now' means new and 'ruz' means day, which translates to 'a new day'

The festival is based off of the story of an ancient king called King Jamshid. Mahdavi says: “King Jamshid noticed that during the long, dark winter months, his subjects descended into darkness as the Earth worked to heal itself from the harvests of the fall.

Parsi, also spelled Parsee, member of a group of followers in India of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra). The Parsis, whose name means “Persians,” are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who emigrated to India to avoid religious persecution.

During the Nowruz holidays, people are expected to make short visits to the homes of family, friends and neighbors. Typically, young people will visit their elders first, and the elders return their visit later. Visitors are offered tea and pastries, cookies, fresh and dried fruits and mixed nuts or other snacks.

Variously known as Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz, this historic rite is observed on 21 March in many countries along the Silk Roads, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

After centuries of rural facelessness, the Parsis flowered under British rule. Their philanthropy came to be as fabled as their fortunes, many made from the opium "trade" with China. Apart from spacious community housing, wealthy families endowed scholarships, hospitals and fire temples.

They believe in the existence of one invisible God, called Ahura Mazda. They worship their God in the form of fire, which symbolizes light. The holiest place for Parsis is the village of Udvada in Gujarat, India. The Parsis believe that fire, water, air and earth are pious elements, to be preserved.

To celebrate Nowruz, people tidy up their houses, visit friends and neighbors and cook the traditional herb rice and fried fish and some special desserts. The United Nations recognises March 21 as the “International Day of Nowruz.