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Pateti

Pateti, also known as Navroj is the Parsi New year. Navroj depicts the day when Mother Nature discards all the old, useless and abortive out of sight and dresses up like a new bride welcoming harmony and jubilation in not only her but everyone’s life. The significance of this day lied in the fact that it is the right day to lament over the wrong done in the past and resolving not to continue the same in the future. This day is not only entering into a New Year but also a new awakening into distinct strata of spiritual consciousness and a new vision of life.

On this day people try to bring Humata which means good thoughts, Hukta which means good words and Havarshta which means good deeds into their lives. It is also a day of showing appreciation to God for whatever blessing he bestowed on everyone. On this day all the members of the family, men, women or children, wake up early, bath and dress up in their new clothes. The entire house is cleaned and the boundaries and thresholds are decorated with colored powder. Incense sticks are lighted and sandalwood is sprinkled on burning coal which is generally kept in censors.

Since food is an ineludible part of the Parsi tradition it is made sure that the best of the food is cooked on this day. For the breakfast two special dishes namely Ravo which is made with Suji, milk and sugar and Fried Vermicelli cooked in sugar syrup and sprinkled with raisins and lot of almond slivers are served. For lunch Pulav, rich with nuts and saffron, fish in green masala and spicy chicken curries are served.

Throughout the day people visit their relatives and loved ones and gifts are exchanged. All the guests are welcomed with another dish known as Faluda. Later in the evening get together known as JASHAN are organized at a massive scale where everyone is invited. Many of the rituals are common to all the Indian festivals and rituals. But what is of crowning importance in the case of Parsi festivals is the free mixing of men and women which certainly is a sign of equality without any distinction on the basis of sex.