Parsis celebrate Navroz with enthusiasm in Mumbai

MUMBAI - Thousands of Parsis residing in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra celebrated their new year - Navroz - with enthusiasm and gaiety here Thursday.

Many members of the community, attired in their traditional finery, congregated for prayers outside the two dozen-odd fire temples in the city and later hugged and cheerfully greeted each other ‘Navroz Mubarak’.

Parsis living in Pune, Lonavala, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and other parts of the state also celebrated their new year with feasting.

A small community, which exists mostly in Mumbai and Gujarat, the Parsis, who arrived in India from Persia (Iran today) more than a 1000 years ago, form 0.2 percent of the country’s population.

According to some estimates, there are around 70,000 members of the community in the country and some 30,000 are spread around the world.

A Gujarati-speaking, peace-loving and educated community, the Parsis have excelled in all fields of life over the years, ranging from business to academics.

Some of the most famous Parsis who have played a major role in the country’s history include Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Bhikaji Cama, the late J.R.D. Tata, scientist Homi J. Bhabha, Homi Sethna, Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw, the Godrej family and several others.

Among the present-day big names in the community are Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapadia, industrialist Ratan Tata, Adi Godrej, Nusli Wadia, Russi Mody and Parvez Damania, legal luminary Soli Sorabjee, writers Sooni Taraporevala and Rohinton Mistry, among many others.

There are others who have made a mark in different fields, including the late Sohrab Modi, Persis Khambatta, Daisy Irani in Bollywood, models Mehr Jessia, Tanaz Currim, Bakhtiar Irani, Jimmy Mistry, humorists Dinyar Contractor, Cyrus Broacha, character actor Boman Irani, Ronnie Screwvalla, musician Freddie Mercury.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan Thursday greeted the Parsi community on their new year.

In his message, the prime minister said Navroz is the most important part of the Gahambar celebration of nature and the seasons, a festival dedicated to renewal and righteousness.

Alluding to the importance of Prophet Zarathushtra’s teachings of human values and respect for the environment, the prime minister hoped the Navroz will usher in happiness and prosperity to all Parsis and to the nation.

In his message, Governor Sankaranaraynan said: “Navroz is the day of awakening in the realm of spiritual consciousness and an occasion to recall the eternal message of Prophet Zarathusthra of good thoughts, good words and good deeds.”