The Parsi Fire Temples in Hyderabad were filled with joy and celebration on Thursday as the community celebrated Nowruz, the Parsi New Year. The festivities continued late into the night with a grand Nowruz fusion fiesta, which was a cultural and culinary event that showcased Zoroastrian traditions.
The celebrations began early in the morning. Members of the Parsi community dressed in their traditional attire and visited the three Fire Temples in the city—two located in Secunderabad and one in Abids. They offered prayers and then gathered in the evening for a lively event called ‘Jashn’ at the Zoroastrian club.
Nowruz is very special to the Parsi community as it marks the first day of the Zoroastrian calendar, known as Farvardin. This day holds a deep significance for the community, who follow the Shahenshahi calendar, which does not account for leap years. However, many Parsis around the world also celebrate this festival in March.
“Nowruz brings us many happy memories, and we look forward to this day every year,” said Nazneen Irani, a member of the Parsi community. She added that preparations for Nowruz start a day before, with homes being decorated with bright flowers and lights. The Fire Temples across the city host early-morning prayer meetings to welcome the New Year.
Food plays a big role in the Nowruz celebrations. “As Parsis, we are known to be big food lovers, and our festival is centered around food,” shared another community member. On Nowruz, along with decorating homes with toran (flowers) and making rangoli, they also prepare several traditional Parsi dishes.
