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Nowzur is also called as 'Persian New year'
Nowzur is celebrated on the 21st March of every year
Nowzur is celebrated by the Iranians
Nowzur is derived from two words, now means New and ruz means day and another meaning of this word is also light. This festival is the 1st day of the New Year and is also the beginning of spring season according to the Iranian calendar. This is the day when sun crosses the celestial equator; this equalizes the day and night. This is calculated every year and the Iranian families have a get together on this day to examine the rituals. Originally this festival is a Zoroastrian festival and is considered as one of the holiest festivals.
The 1st day of New Year according to the Iranian calendar comes in the month of March equinox; it is also the 1st day of spring. During this equinox, the sun is directly observed on the equator. Due to this the south and north poles of the earth lie to the side of solar terminator. Hence the sunlight divides north and the south hemisphere equally.
This festival is also celebrated as the Parsi New Year and this is observed according to the Fasli calendar. This is one of the most celebrated festivals of the Parsis. This festival dates back to the 6th century B.C. During this period there were legendary kings Cyrus and by Darius who ruled the Persian Empire. Celebration of this festival reminds and takes back to about 3000 years, on this day legendary King Jamshedji was ascended as King on the day of Nowzur.
Legend says that king Jamshedji introduced solar calculation into the Persian calendar. He was the one who determined the date of sun entering the constellation of Aries, at the beginning of the New Year. There was a custom on this auspicious day that the king was supposed to weigh in gold and silver and that money was distributed among the poor.
Rituals of Nowzur
During the old age there was a custom to grow wheat in a small bowl and on the 13th day after the Nowzur, they tossed those tiny sprouts into the water head close by. This is a mark of respect for the greenery and water. This tradition is carried by the Parsis.
Celebration of Nawruz
Celebration starts by cleaning and painting the house. People have a bath early in the morning and wear their new clothes on this day. People decorate their entrance and windows with the garlands of jasmines and roses. People visit fire temple on this occasion as they have special prayers of thanks giving conducted in the temple. People offer sandalwood to Holy fire in the temple.
Traditional food
Parsis celebrate this festival with great joy and in a much elaborate manner. Food is considered to be one of the most important things of their celebration. Parsi food is observed to be a perfect blend of west Asian and Indian cooking. Traditional food prepared on this holy day is as follows akoori, ambakalya, badam pak, backed pomfret, bhakra, brown cinnamon rice, chicken dhansak, chicken farchan , dhanask, falooda, haleem, khara papeta and kopra pak.
Parsis celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm and joy as this is the only auspicious festival for them.
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