Significance of Food in a festive Parsi Ses

By Rita Jamshed Kapadia

Traditionally, the bride brings to her new home a Ses gifted to her by her parents. She is bringing all these as part of her to the new household with sweetness, strength, love and to shed the light of knowledge.

“Ses” is the most prominent auspicious symbol among Parsis. It is a round metallic tray of varied shapes and sizes, present at all times in a Parsi house, especially on auspicious occasions. The Ses has a wonderful collection of auspicious items in it:

  1. Divo : Symbolises light – to dispel darkness and evil.

  2. Paro / Soparo : It is a conical metallic utensil in which patasha and/or rock sugar sakar is kept. 

  3. Pigani: It is a small metallic utensil  (wine glass shaped) with a lid in which Kanku (vermilion) is kept to put an auspicious red mark/tila on the forehead. The Parsis generally put a vertical mark on the forehead of a man and a round one on the forehead of the woman. The former signifies rays of the sun, the latter signifies the moon. Rice is placed on to the red mark to signify plenty.

  4. Gulabaz: It’s a metallic sprinkler-cum-container, which has rose water (Gulaab-jal) in it.

  5. Miscellaneous items: Coconut (a symbol of resourcefulness and Utility), betel leaves (paan), betel nut (sopari), almonds (badaam), dried dates (khaarak), rice, (symbolising fertility and productivity) curd and fish (fresh fish or sweet meat in the shape of a fish)(for good luck).  There can be water for purity; eggs – life-giving force; sugar crystals (khari saakar) -sweetness; rose petals – happiness; silver and gold coins – wealth and prosperity are also placed. A garland of fresh flowers is twisted around the ses.

When any good occasion or event comes up, I always bring out the “Ses” and polish it.  The Ses is then filled with Flowers, Sweets, Candle or a Oil Lamp (Divo), Eggs, Sopari nuts, Pan Leaf, Rice, Rose water, Fruits like Coconut, Dates (kharek),  Herbs (dry turmeric) and a good luck fertility symbolic fish (Silver or Gold Fish jewelry, Mava ni boi, sweet desserts made from marzipan  and Yogurt (Mitthu Dahi) .

The Parsi Ses is filled with symbolic food items which signify certain values:

  • Sweets (Sugar cubes, Desserts, Chocolates, etc)

  • Value: Sweet Nature and outlook

  • Candle or a Oil Lamp (Divo)

  • Value: Light of knowledge and wisdom

  • Eggs (Do not boil, eggs should be raw)

  • Value: Fertility

  • Sopari nuts 

  • Value: Reliable

  • Pan Leaf (Fresh leaf, if pan leaf is not found then use other fresh leaves)  

  • Value: Fresh and Pure

  • Rice (Dry white rice)

  • Value: Fertility

  • Rose water in the “Pigani”

  • Value: Sweet words

  • Fruits (Coconut, Dates (kharek)

  • Value: Fertility

  • Spices and Herbs (dry turmeric)

  • Value: Strength of character

  • Fish (Silver or Gold Fish jewelry or a traditional Mava ni boi sweet dessert ***

  • Value: Good Luck

  • Yogurt (Mitthu Dahi)  

  • Value: Good Luck

  • Red Kanku

  • Value: Good Blessings

https://youtu.be/IJP_7sFPuj0

Parsi Cuisine

Rita Kapadia is a cook, baker and author. She acquired a reputation for being a good cook after entertaining dinner guests for more than 30 years, and her husband encouraged her, telling her that she should write a cookbook. In 1999 this website was established ! Over time, millions of people have visited the ParsiCuisine.com site, YouTube.com/parsicuisine channel and other social media in search of Parsi and Indian recipes. Cookbooks are published and printed in USA and available on Amazon worldwide. Thanks for visiting. http://www.ParsiCuisine.com

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