Parsi New Year: The Parsi New Year commonly known as Navroz is observed in the month of July or August.

Key Highlights

• President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar greeted the people on the occasion. 
• This day is celebrated by Parsi community according to dates of Shahenshahi calendar.
• This is seen as a harbinger of peace and prosperity.  
• Navroz, in 2022 is being observed on August 16.

About Navroz:

• Navroz has derived its name from two word, viz., ‘Nav’ and ‘Roz’ which means “New Day” in English.
• In Zoroastrian calendar, this day is celebrated on first day of the first month of Farvardin.
• This day is commonly celebrated in Maharashtra Gujarat, and Goa since, most of the Parsi population lives in these states.
• The festival is celebrated with grand lunch and dinner with the best and finest variety of Parsi cuisine.
• Parisis see this festival as the great occasion to get together, eat and mingle.
• On this day, the Parsis visit the Agyaris or the fire temples to offer prayers. 
• They feed the poor on this day, as the new year has to start on a good note. 

History:

• Navroz celebration is believed to date back to the time when Prophet Zarathustra founded Zoroastrianism.
• It is one of the earliest known monotheistic religions in the world, in Persia (now Iran).
• It was one of the most important religions in the ancient world until the emergence of Islam in the seventh century.
• For followers of Zoroastrian philosophy, this day represents the time when everything in the universe is completely renewed. Jamshed, a monarch of the ancient Sasanian Empire, is credited with introducing the Parsi calendar.
• Hence, this holiday is also called Jamshed-i-Nouroz.
• During the Islamic invasion of Persia, several Persians fled to India and Pakistan.
• Since then, their festivals have become a part of Indian festivities and are celebrated by people from diverse cultures.

Note: Though across the world, Navroz is celebrated at the time of the vernal equinox around March 21 however, Parsis in India follow the Shahenshahi calendar which does not recognise leap years. This is why the Parsi New Year in India is celebrated almost 200 days after it is celebrated across the world.