Kolkata’s 360 Parsis celebrate spring festival with special prayers and food
Times of India | 22 March 2025
12 Kolkata: The Parsi community in Kolkata celebrated their spring festival — Jamshedi Navroz — with prayers, greetings, and food on Friday. The city is currently home to 360 members of the community that, next year, will celebrate the 260th anniversary of the arrival of the first Parsi in Kolkata.
The day's celebrations began with a special prayer service (Jashan) at the Ervad Dhunjeebhoy Byramjee Mehta Zoroastrian Anjuman Atash Adaran on Metcalfe Street in central Kolkata, where members of the community gathered to seek blessings for a prosperous year ahead.
Men arrived dressed in immaculate white coats, or daghlis, paired with trousers. The women donned saris, also known as garas. The prayers were conducted invoking peace, harmony, and good fortune. "The essence of Navroz is renewal, both spiritually and socially. Despite being a small community in Kolkata, we come together to uphold our traditions with the same fervour as our ancestors. The day started with special prayers, after which we greeted each other and partook in a meal together. In the evening, we have a community dinner," said a trustee of the temple.
After the prayer service, the families assembled in the lounge on the ground floor of the fire temple for the community meal. The breakfast spread included Parsi delicacies, like Parsee scrambled eggs, Malido Papri (sweet), ravo, and fruits. "Members came together again for dinner after celebrating the festival with their families and friends throughout the day," said Tehnaz, a young community member.
The first Parsi to arrive in the city was Dadabhai Behramji Banaji of Bhagvandi in Surat in 1846, after whom the temple on Metcalfe Street is named. He became a successful businessman in Kolkata. Many community members reminisced about their ancestors who upheld the customs for centuries, ensuring that the flame of faith and tradition never wavered.
The population of Parsis in Kolkata has dwindled sharply in the past few decades. "The celebrations of Navroz serve as a reminder of our deep cultural roots, our unyielding faith, and commitment to community spirit," said Rasheed Jeejeebhoy, a community member.
As the evening drew to a close, the echoes of laughter, music, and prayers filled the air, marking to-getherness, prosperity, and hope for the future for the Parsi community in Kolkata.