Parsis in Secunderabad & Hyderabad plan grand Navroze festivities

HYDERABAD: A population of around 450 Zoroastrian families in the city are planning to go big on celebrating their new year, also known as Navroze, on August 17 this year. While Zoroastrians across the world celebrated their New Year on March 21 this year, closer home, the 1,000 member strong community will celebrate it on Saturday.
“In the morning, many community members would be visiting one of the three fire temples in the twin cities.The Anjuman fire temple which is also known as Agiary located at Mahatma Gandhi Road, Secunderabad will host a "Jashan". It is a thanksgiving prayer ceremony performed generally by 2 priests and it lasts for over an hour. Thereafter, people prefer visiting their friends and relatives. In the evening the Zoroastrian Club at Secunderabad will host a programme followed by a sit-down Parsi dinner,” said Jehangir Bisney, a chartered accountant and trustee of The Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad & Hyderabad (PZASH).
The PZASH is also preparing for a grand celebration to coincide with the completion of 100 years of the consecration of their fire temple next year.
“According to the Parsi culture, the Muktad is held in the ten days prior to the new year. During this time, the community members visit the fire temples to remember the departed souls of their family members. There are beautiful flower vases filled with different types of flowers and each vase is dedicated to the soul of the deceased,” Perviz Nalladaru, President, Zoroastrian Stree Mandal.
With time things have changed within the community in the city. “Whereas most of the traditions and rituals are intact, most of the old palatial houses have been demolished to make way for apartments,” added Bisney.
Elders of the community also brought to attention the dwindling population of the community, pointing towards the reduction of the 1,200 member community into a 1,000 member community.