Zoroastrian Faith : NoRuz 21st March
WHAT IS NORUZ?
Jamsheedi NoRuz, celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, the first day of spring, is the most important festival in the Zoroastrian year. It is customary to wear new clothes and to visit relatives, friends, and neighbours bearing gifts. People visit theFireTempleand seek blessing from the Crea tor Ahura Mazda, participate in a jashan or thanks giving ceremony, followed by eating, drinking, dancing and making merry.
RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY
Popularly known as Jamsheedi NoRuz and celebrated on the vernal equinox, King Jamsheed also known as Yima in early Zoroastrian texts, assisted the Creator God Ahura Mazda by building an underground dwelling similar to Noah’s Ark and saving the creation from being utterly destroyed during the prolonged bitter snowy winter brought about by the evil spirit.
The day it was safe for the creation to leave the underground dwelling following the bitter winter was declared by King Jamsheed as NoRuz or New Day.
NoRuz is celebrated annually on the first day of spring and represents the resurgence of life and is the symbolic victory of the forces of light over darkness. Hence the custom of spring cleaning the house, wearing new clothes, visiting relatives, friends, and neighbours bearing gifts.
NoRuz is celebrated with pomp and feasting in Iran parts of Afghanistan and Central Asia with its origins in antiquity, NoRuz has different layers of significance. According to Zoroastrian tradition, the spring new year festival was founded by Prophet Zarathushtra himself, as it is believed that on the first day of spring the prophet received the first revelation from the Creator God Ahura Mazda.
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