A Very Happy Nowroze

Mahvesh's beautiful haft-seen table

March 21 was the official first day of Spring- the vernal equinox. Living in Pakistan we are quite at home calendar-hopping between the Lunar for all religious events and the Gregorian one for all day-to-day affairs. But the calendar I wish we used was one that was truly in tune with the seasons. Whether it is the first green shoot on a erstwhile dried branch, or a series of ever-shortening-evenings leading to winter, we all respond on a primal level. And I think the first day of spring deserves an official holiday.

Turning a new leaf 

I have never understood why in the Gregorian calendar the new year starts so arbitrarily in the middle of winter, and I find even more puzzling our Islamic, nomadic-yet-forever-morose new year in Muharram. Surely, even the smallest infant can recognize that the new year starts in spring, when the Earth awakens from its slumber, turning green once again and celebrating its own re-birth in a riot of color and fragrance. Which is why Nowroze, the traditional new year of the Zoroastrians, or Parsis as we know them, has such universal appeal. In Pakistan Nowroze is celebrated by many other minorities- Ismailis, some Shias, and people of Persian origin. And in good religious tradition the Parsi Nowroze has many wonderful rites and rituals (which to me are the best part of all religion!)

This year, Hatim and I were fortunate enough to be invited to our first Parsi Nowroze- and what a treat it was. At the threshold of her garden Mahvesh (or Mahvesh's friend) had stenciled fish and flowers in pink, purple and blue powders, somewhat like the Hindu rangoli but known as chawk. And garlands of roses hung over the entry. Then our lovely hostess greeted us in the traditional manner, applying a tilak of red kumkum on our foreheads, while we smiled into a mirror and sprinkling rosewater on us while we held an auspicious coconut.

Hatim with his very debonair tilak

All the things placed on the Nowroze haft-seen (or seven 's') table have a special significance- the goldfish swimming in its bowl is a symbol of life, the sprouted mung beans represent rebirth, the painted eggs fertility, apples for beauty and garlic for health, milk and honey for plenty and sweet, lit candles for enlightenment and rosewater for purification.

I absolutely love all these rituals full of symbolism that speak to something primordial within each of us.   Nowroze is a celebration not just of the new year, but of human resilience. By keeping up traditions we  celebrate the link with our ancestors, who were so crucial to our existence today, but we also celebrate the new year to mark that we have survived yet another year, despite all the obstacles along the way. Parsi or not, we all smiled into that mirror, hoping that fortune smiles back on us this year.