Context: Navroz or Parsi New Year was celebrated on March 21 to mark the beginning of spring.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Navroz: Parsi New Year.
About Navroz
- Navroz (Jamshed-i-Navroz) is the Parsi New Year which is believed to mark the beginning of spring.
- The festival is named after the Persian king Jamshed, who is believed to have created the Persian calendar.
- Indian Parsis celebrate the festival twice every year:
- the date of the festival as per the Iranian Fasli calendar (around March 21)
- the date according to the Shahenshahi (Zoroastrian) calendar, widely used by Indian Parsis (around July or August).
- The day is celebrated by decorating homes, engaging in prayers and enjoying special dishes.
- Navroz has been added to the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Zoroastrianism
- Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions.
- It is founded on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster and the sacred text Avesta.
- Originating in ancient Iran, it centers on the worship of Ahura Mazda, the uncreated and benevolent deity of wisdom.
- The religion presents a dualistic view of the world, depicting an ongoing battle between good and evil, with the expectation that good will ultimately prevail.
- Despite its decline after the Muslim conquest of Persia, it continues to be practiced today, primarily in India and Iran.