Whether they spell it Nauroz, Navroze or Navroz is besides the point. The table of goodies is always set precisely by the time the sun enters the sign of Aries, to begin a fresh round of the zodiac. It is when many Zoroastrians and Ismailis, along with several in Afghanistan and Central Asia, welcome spring — or rather the spring equinox — the time for rebirth, and the beginning of another new year.

In Pakistan, this year the spring equinox happened at 2.36pm yesterday (Saturday). As a writer wanting to write about this sweet traditional celebration each year, I keep a lookout for whoever is celebrating. This begins with my calling up many of my Parsi friends in the hope of being invited to their table. Parsis are the most friendly and welcoming people, but not all celebrate Nauroz by setting the table.

As my childhood best friend ‘TJD’, points out, “the table is set by the Iranian Parsis. We only celebrate by having a scrumptious dinner!” That’s why the spring celebration is called Jamshedi Navroz, after the Persian King Jamshed, to whom the solar or shamsi hijri calendar is attributed. The Parsis also have another Navroz that will occur on August 16 this year. That day, though also observed as the spring equinox, follows the Indian calendar, which does not take into account the leap years, which delays the festival.

Some years ago, I also managed to corner an Ismaili lady known to staunchly follow the tradition, and who I had discovered on Twitter. “Ok then, but be there on time, at 6.30am exactly. Do not be late please,” she had requested. But I conveniently mistook the ‘am’ for ‘pm’, missed the event, and found myself embarrassed and promptly unfollowed.

There are not that many Parsis remaining in Pakistan now, leave alone those who hail from Iran. Still, persistence has paid off and I have been fortunate enough to be invited to various Navroz tables in their homes.

The main principle to be followed when laying out the table by both Parsis and Ismailis is to take care about having seven items starting with the Arabic alphabet ‘seen’, on it. There are the vegetables (sabzi), which usually comprises wheat sprouts planted a few days before for them to have germinated and grown in length. (They can be barley or lentil sprouts too, but wheat is more common.) There is also a kind of pudding prepared from germinated wheat that is called samanu, an apple (saib), dried fruit (senjed), garlic (seer), vinegar (sirka) and some coins (sikka). Therefore the table, displaying all seven items is also known as the ‘Haft Seen’.

It’s a table laden with goodies. There are also sweetmeats, several sweet beverages, a goldfish in a fish bowl, and boiled eggs decorated with little hands, so as to involve the children in the festivities. As the clock strikes the right time, the family celebrates by sprinkling rose water on each other and also on their guests if they are having anyone over. Together they light a candle or clay lamp and, one by one, look at their smiling reflections in the mirror (smiling at one’s reflection ensures happiness for the entire year) as they say prayers for everyone’s well being and the prosperity of the land.

The decorated eggs signify rebirth, creation and productivity. Like the coins on the table, the goldfish also symbolises wealth. It is hoped that the new year will bring lots of prosperity, along with health, joy, and sweetness. But since the table is to be laid out for 13 days, as per tradition, with all welcome to help themselves from it, some people don’t think the occasion is as joyous for the poor fish. So, on one occasion, I had found just a picture of a goldfish on the table. On another, there was some barfi in the shape of a fish on the table. And once there was also just some fruit in a dish shaped like a fish, which was made a part of the display.

Navroz also opens the doors to a number of other traditional and religious celebrations of rebirth, with Easter being the biggest of them. But before Easter, there is the Hindu festival of Holi coming up.

Holi, the festival of colour, is celebrated on the first full moon of March. This month it falls on the 28th. That’s when the water guns and water bombs full of pigments would come out. If you’re part of the festivity, you’ll find yourself taking cover, before retaliating of course. Yes, though it is a Hindu festival, many Muslims also join in looking for some fun and laughter every year. Even though the festival has some religious relevance, it is also celebrated around harvest time, an occasion for celebration in itself.

Easter, as all know, also has decorated eggs, just like those of Navroz — signifying new life and rebirth. Unlike the solemn observance of Good Friday, the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, just two days later, Easter Sunday, is the day of his resurrection. It is the celebration of new life. Easter, this year, will fall on April 4.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country celebrates Jashn-i-Baharan or Basant amid the confusion about whether to celebrate Basant by flying kites or by just donning yellow to match with those mustard flowers swaying in the fields.

The writer is a member of staff
She tweets @HasanShazia

Published in Dawn, EOS, March 21st, 2021