The Parsi and Kashmiri Pandit community of the city will be bringing in their respective new year on Saturday. While the Parsi community celebrates 'Jamshedi Navroz', the Kashmiri Pandits will celebrate 'Navreh'.
The Parsi and Kashmiri Pandit community of the city will be bringing in their respective new year on Saturday. While the Parsi community celebrates 'Jamshedi Navroz', the Kashmiri Pandits will celebrate 'Navreh'.
Rajesh Shah is from Anantnag in Kashmir. He has been living in the city since 2006. "In Anantnag, we went out to look at the new flowers at the beginning of spring. Apples came later but almonds came first. We loved seeing the almond flowers and eating yellow rice with mutton dishes," said Shah, a businessman.
Shah is also a member of the Kashmiri Pandits Association of Mumbai that is holding a function for around 200 families on Sunday at Kashyap Bhavan in Andheri. Besides cultural songs, games and comedy skits in Kashmiri and Hindi, the event will have Kahwa (kashmiri tea) and snacks like dishes of lotus stems and puri halwa. "We have 1,200 families registered with us and the association has existed since 1970," said Shah.
On March 28, the community will inaugurate its own cultural centre in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.
Erwad Hoshedar Panthaki is the head priest at Mumbai's oldest Agiary (fire temple) Seth Banaji Limji Daremeher at Fort, which is 307 years old. He said that Navroze is the festival of spring and beginning of the spring equinox.
"It is also called Jamshedi Navroz as Lord Jamshed, the king of Iran, ascended the throne on that day. It also signifies the beginning of spring equinox. Mostly the Fasli sect of Parsis celebrate this day. Sandalwood is offered to the fire besides fruits and sweet dishes which people may decide to consume or donate. Prayers are also conducted and worshipers throng the place to wish each other and to offer their gratitude," he said.
In the new year he personally wished for lesser controversy. "I wish we stay united as only a handful of us are left. I hope we grow children in a better way and have more solutions than questions," he added.
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