The prime Minister of India extensively wished everyone on the occasion of Navroz, which falls on the 21st of March, 2022. This article aims to explore the significance of Navroz, its unique celebration in India, and the prevalent Zoroastrian community.
The Meaning and Significance of Navroz
At the heart of this festival, Navroz is also recognized as the Parsi New Year. Originating from Persian language, ‘Nav’ translates to new, and ‘Roz’ to day, thereby lending the meaning ‘New Day’ to Navroz. This celebration sees a global observance in March, however, in India, it arrives 200 days later due to the adoption of the Shahenshahi calendar that does not consider leap years.
In India, Navroz is also known as Jamshed-i-Navroz, named after the Persian King, Jamshed, who also assumed a vital role in the creation of the Shahenshahi calendar. Navroz has a distinctive observation in India with two celebrations each year. The first follows the Iranian calendar while the second celebration adheres to the Shahenshahi calendar followed in India and Pakistan.
This tradition holds significance for Iranians and the Zoroastrian community around the globe. Marking its importance in cultural heritage, Navroj was added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of India list in 2009. This coveted list showcases the diversity of the intangible heritage elements, underscoring their relevance in cultural conversations.
Zoroastrianism: The Core of Navroz
Zoroastrianism, practiced predominantly by the Parsis, stands as one of the earliest known monotheistic faiths. This religion emerged over 3,500 years ago in ancient Iran through the teachings of Prophet Zarathustra. Serving as the official religion of Persia, or modern-day Iran, from 650 BCE until the rise of Islam in the 7th century, Zoroastrianism significantly influenced the ancient world for over a millennium.
The Islamic invasion of Persia led to a significant immigration of Zoroastrians to India (Gujarat) and Pakistan. In today’s context, the Parsis, translated as Persian in Gujarati, constitute the largest single group in India. The global Zoroastrian population currently stands at an estimated 2.6 million. Moreover, the Parsi community, also known as Zoroastrians, are one of the legally recognized minority communities in India.
