KARACHI: The first day of the new year in the Iranian calendar, also known as the spring equinox, is a time for much celebration and joy for Zoroashtrians, along with some other communities, including Ismailis. Winter is officially over and spring is here, finally. Happy Nauroz!

The advent of spring is welcomed with certain traditions or rituals by Parsis. You will find the Nauroz table laden with sweets, decorated eggs, fruit, especially apples, dried fruits, and some other things such as a mirror, coins, freshly sprouted wheat, barley or lentils in a tray, etc.

Basically, there are some seven essential things that should be there on the table. All are referred to with the letter ‘s’. There is sabzeh taken care of by the wheat, barley, or lentil sprouts. They symbolise rebirth and growth. There is shireeni or sweets to symbolise happiness and joy. There is ‘senjed’, a dried olive-like fruit to symbolise love. There is saib or apple to symbolise beauty and health. There is seer, meaning garlic, symbolising medicine or health. There are sikkeh or coins to symbolise health and prosperity. And there is sirkah or vinegar to symbolise long life and patience.

Other things there include a goldfish, a candle or oil lamp, eggs and a mirror. They also have their significance. The fish reminds of life and the flow of time, beauty and resilience of nature. The candle or lamp provides light. There are also eggs on the table, which remind you of rebirth and that life goes on. The mirror, signifying reflection, awareness and inner beauty, encourages introspection and personal growth. At the exact time of the spring equinox the family celebrating Nauroz greet each other and look at themselves in the mirror as they smile. It is believed that looking at a smiling you in the mirror will have you smiling like that for the entire year.

Parsis celebrate Nauroz with advent of spring

Usually the Nauroz table is set for 13 days with everyone, including family members and guests, welcome to help themselves to something or the other from it. It’s like an open house. If anything gets low during this time, it is promptly added to. It is a time to give thanks for all the blessings one received throughout the year at the start of another fresh year.

The Nauroz table is not set in all Parsi homes, mind you. Only those Parsi families, whose ancestors arrived from Iran or Persia celebrate the day like this. The day is also referred to as ‘Jamshedi Nauroz’ after the Persian king, Jamshed, who is credited for creating the Persian solar calendar. Meanwhile, other Parsis celebrate the day by meeting up, eating, drinking and being merry.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2024