Seven ways to celebrate Navroze

 Best wishes for a very Happy Navroze for you and your family in 2021.

Zoroastrians around the world set up the traditional Haft-Seen Table in their homes.

The “Haft Chin” items are:

1. Mirror – symbolizing Sky
2. Apple – symbolizing Earth
3. Candles – symbolizing Fire
4. Golab – rose water symbolizing Water
5. Sabzeh – wheat, or barley sprouts symbolizing Plants
6. Goldfish – symbolizing Animals
7. Painted Eggs – symbolizing Humans and Fertility

The term and therefore the original custom was changed due to the digraph Ch (چ) not being present in the Arabic language leading to its replacement by the letter S (س). This occurred as a result of acculturation and cultural transformation of the local Persian population by the Umayyad Caliphate following their invasion of Sassanid Persia in 650.

The Haft Seen items are:

1. Sabzeh – (Persian: سبزه‎)-wheat, barley, mung bean or lentil sprouts growing in a dish – symbolising rebirth
2. Samanu – (Persian: سمنو‎)-sweet pudding made from wheat germ – symbolising affluence
3. Senjed – (Persian: سنجد‎)-dried oleaster fruit – symbolising love
4. Sir – (Persian: سیر‎)- garlic – symbolising medicine
5. Sib – (Persian: سیب‎)- apples – symbolising beauty and health
6. Somāq – (Persian: سماق‎)sumac fruit – symbolising (the color of) sunrise
7. Serkeh – (Persian: سرکه‎) – vinegar – symbolising old-age and patience

Mary Boyce described a traditional Sharifabadi Zoroastrian New Years observance as including:^[1]

• Sabzeh – Sprouts from seven different kinds of seeds
• clay figures, whitewashed (favorites being domestic animals, cows, donkeys, sheep, camel, nightingale, peacock, also household objects such as sugar-loaf, bowls, or a three-legged stool). These “bear witness to the triumphant works of creation.”
• a mirror
• a low brazier full of fire
• a lamp
• sprays of cypress or pine
• pomegranates
• painted eggs
• Hafez a well known persian poet’s book is displayed and poems are read during the  Yalda festival.

Photos are from the Lexington Library, MA

My mega coffee table Cookbook “Parsi Cuisine Manna of the 21st Century” is on sale, 25 % off for Navroze and Spring.
Order Author signed cookbook here $29.99 + $4 (shipping) = $33.99. (Only in USA)

 

 India’s Parsi Breakfast usually consists of Sweet Ravo (Semolina)  – choc-a-bloc with dry fruits) which is served with yogurt and enjoyed by young and old alike.

Mouth watering Parsi dishes are Kid Gosht,  Sali boti (a mutton and potato preparation), chicken farchas, patrani machchi (fish steamed in a leaf), mutton pulao or Berry Pulao and Dhansak / Masala dal and saas ni machchi (a thick white gravy with pomfret) jostle for space on the table.

Desserts too are not behind in terms of variety, the most easy to make being Falooda. It is a sweet milk drink made from vermicelli and flavored with rose essence. Lagan-nu-custard is a favorite on this occasion.

If you are adventurous – go for making Rita’s famous Dar ni Pori (Sweet pastry with lentils) or Rita’s Malido.

Breakfast 

 Parsi Sev Sweet Vermicelli 

 Parsi Ravo (Sweet cream of wheat)

Akuri

Lunch

 Dhan Dal (Steamed Rice with plain dal) with Khari Fish

Fried Pomfret  (Tareli Maachi)

Dinner

Kid Gosht 

Dessert

 Lagan nu Custard

Snacks

Batasa – a favorite biscuit snack. Good with Tea or Coffee anytime! 

Rita

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