Welcoming the Spring Equinox: Holi & Jamshed –e-Navroze

The month of Phalgun, announces the beginning of ‘Vasant Ritu’ or Spring time and nature starts blooming into verdant colours.

India’s most loved, most publicized, most ‘bollywoodized’ festival – Holi – the festival of colours is celebrated with much cheer and aplomb.

The vernal equinox and the advent of spring is also auspicious for Parsi’s as well. They call it Jamshed-e-Navroz.

Parsis don new clothes and decorate their homes with colourful rangolis especially the fish motif, flowers and sweets. A jashan or thanksgiving is offered at the Fire Temple or Agiary.

Legend has it that the night before Holi, the demoness Holika was burnt to death in a fire while the god-fearing Prince Pralhad was saved even though he was in the same fire. Thus it is a celebration of good over evil.

The next morning the previous night’s embers or dhuli is venerated and coloured water and powders are thrown over one another to welcome spring.

Holi is also associated with Lord Krishna and it is said that he used to play raasleela with his gopis, showering the gopi’s with an orange concoction made from the flowers of the Silk Blossom tree.

A time for feasting, batashas, and puranpolis, sanjori’s and gujias are eaten with delight.

Holi is indeed a joyous celebration – forging renewed hopes and happiness.