With three festivals lined up for this Saturday and Sunday, Ahmedabad promises to bear a festive outlook over the weekend.
With three festivals lined up for this Saturday and Sunday, Ahmedabad promises to bear a festive outlook over the weekend.
While Parsis will herald their new year today, Dawoodi Bohra will mark Eid on the same day. Lack of holidays has forced Ahmedabad Kerala Samajam (AKS) to hold Onam celebrations on Sunday. The festival in actuality is slated for August 29.
Furthermore, Paryushan observed by Sthanak Vaasi Jains started on August 14 and festivities will continue in the weekend while Id-ul-fitr, which marks culmination of Ramzan, will be celebrated on Monday. Meanwhile, Parsis celebrated Pateti on Friday which marks last day of their calendar year.
Dawoodi Bohri Eid
There are 22 Dawoodi Bohra mosques in the city, already decked up with flowers for today’s celebrations. Leader of the community, Aamil Saheb will preside over the morning prayers and gatherings at the mosques. About 12,000 members of the community will participate in the festivities.
As per Abbas Unawala, “Due to health concerns, we tend to eat in moderation on Eid after month-long fasts during Ramzan. However, we relish Sheer Khurma (sweet delicacy made from milk, sewai and dry fruits) with friends and relatives.”
Navroz
Though in miniscule numbers, Parsis usher in their new year Navroz at the Fire Temple with great devotion and this year will be no different. A very interesting ritual of drawing Rangoli at homes is a sign for good luck for the year ahead.
Every Parsi household will decorate a thaali, called Ses in their language. This thaali will be placed infront of the Lord, and consists of Paro (small pyramid), gulaab dani (rosewater sprinkler), kumkum dani (container for vermillion), betel nut and its leaves, dry dates, almonds and rice.
The Parsi Youth League of Ahmedabad (PYLA) has organised a community dinner at Navrangpura stadium this evening which will see participation of 200 Parsis, said Cyrus Daruwala who is treasurer of the league. Another cultural programme is planned for next Saturday as part of the Navroz celebrations.
Paryushan
While Parsis will be relishing delicacies, Sthanak Vaasi Jains will observe fasts for Paryushan. Though their populace in the city is quite less when compared with Jains of the Digambar or Shwetambar sects, they observe this holy week with gusto.
The Sthanak Upashrays of the city will be brimming with devotees on Saturday as tonight’s new moon holds great importance for them. Devotees will follow Pausad at this time, where devotees live in Upashrays and follow lifestyle of sadhus and sadhvis for a few days.
Sthanak Vaasi Jains do not believe in idol worship, but indulge in religious discourses by holy men and women of their community. Paryushan culminates on August 21 with pratikraman (religious ritual) by devotees that evening.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}