The Parsi New Year or Nowruz as it is called, will be celebrated in India on Thursday, 21 March this year. The festival marks the beginning of the Iranian calendar.
According to a popular belief, the festival is celebrated as Jamshed-i-Nowruz to honour Jamshed, the Persian king who introduced the Parsi calendar.
In India, the festival is celebrated with great zeal and fervor in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Enthused with the spirit of positivity, the Parsis dress up in traditional attires and visit fire temples where they offer flowers, sandalwood and milk to fire, on the auspicious day. They pray to the ultimate power they believe in, seeking absolution.
On the day of Nowruz, people from the Parsi community decorate their homes with lights, flowers and rangoli and cook special dishes including dhansak, prawns, farcha, pulao, sali boti, patra ni machhi and lagan nu custard. They also welcome guests with sprinkles of rose water.
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