From film screening to feasts: How Hyderabad Parsis celebrated Jamshedi Navroz

Hyderabad: Many members of the Zoroastrian Community in Hyderabad and Secunderabad came together recently at several places in the city to celebrate Jamshedi Navroz.

What is the meaning of Jamshedi Navroz?

Navroz means ‘New Day’ and Jamshed-i means ‘of Jamshed.’ Jamshed referred to here is the fourth Peshdadian king to adorn the throne of ancient Iran.

The origins have their roots in ancient history. Shahnameh, the old Persian epic, tells us that God forewarned King Jamshed about a catastrophic snowstorm that would submerge the entire world in ice and snow. King Jamshed was advised to take a pair of each animal species and settle on a mountain to save himself and other creations from the great catastrophe.

King Jamshed did so and established a settlement, which he called Var-e-Jam-Kard (the settlement of Jamshed). The present festival of Jasmshedi Navroz is celebrated to commemorate the event.

Spring Festival to celebrate new life

Today, in India, Jamshedi Navroz is celebrated by Parsis as a spring festival, to commemorate the coronation of King Jamshed. The Parsis in India associate the seasonal Navroz with King Jamshed and refer to it as Jamshedi Navroz.

History of Jamshedi Navroz in India

In India, the celebration of Jamshedi Navroz was first started by Seth Nasarvanji Kavasji Kohyaji in his private bungalow in Surat, towards the end of the 18th century. He was an agent for a Dutch company and used to travel to Iran for work. After a few decades, the celebrations of this festival were started in Bombay by Seth Merwanji Pandey at his bungalow. In the 20th century, Khurshedji Rustamji Cama, further popularised the festival in Mumbai and gave it religious overtones.

How do Hyderabadis celebrate Jamshedi Navroz?

In 2025, Parsis of the Twin Cities celebrated Jamshedi Navroz with great enthusiasm.

Houses were decorated with flower garlands and the doorsteps were decorated with chalk signalling the Parsi Rangoli. A sweet ravo (made from sugar, milk and suji) and sev or sweet vermicelli were prepared as breakfast in most houses. Parsis visited the fire temple or Agiary where priests performed a Jashan or a thanksgiving prayer.

The prayers were attended by many at the three fire temples of Hyderabad and Secunderabad where the congregations offered sandalwood to the Holy Fire with covered heads. They wished each other ‘Sal Mubarak.’ Refreshments, snacks and falooda were served to the attendees.

Welcoming Navroz with cinema

A film screening was also held on the occasion. A grand red-carpet event was organised followed by the film screening and an engaging audience interaction with the media at Prasads Multiplex.

A short documentary ‘Four on Eleven: The Fading Glory of Parsi Cricket’ was screened at the prestigious Red Lorry Film Festival.

More about the documentary ‘Four on Eleven’

A documentary by city-based director Shrikaran Beecharaju, Four on Eleven, is about four of the finest names including Nari Contractor, Polly Umrigar, Farokh Engineer and Rusi Surti who played for the Indian Test team in the 1960s and the rich legacy and indelible impression they have left on the cricketing fraternity.

Hyderabad cricketing great Noshir Mehta

The one-hour screening was followed by an interactive session with the film’s crew and esteemed chief guest, former Ranji Trophy cricketer and off-spinner Noshir Mehta, the biggest name of the Parsi community in cricket from the city. Noshir played 47 first-class games including Ranji and Dilip trophies and in the Rest of India Team. He has been named by Wisden, the cricketers’ bible, as the longest-playing cricketer in the world, playing 50 consecutive years of league cricket. He was the coach of Hyderabad Under 15, 17 and 19 teams, bowling coach at the Cricket Academy of Excellence at Gymkhana grounds, and selector for Under 15, 17 and 19 teams and for Ranji Trophy men’s teams.

Enthralling documentary by Shrikaran Beecharaju

Speaking about the film screening, Shrikaran said. “The Parsi Community promoted the game in a big way and had the distinction of sending the first-ever team from India to the UK in 1866 and had the privilege of playing even at Lord’s in London.”

Nirvan Athreya’s music for the film, created with Karina del Mar, truly resonated and uplifted the mood of the documentary’s storyline. Though made with a small budget, Shrikaran Beecharaju’s passion for the subject was the driving force that pulled them all to work together to create a masterpiece.

Nirvan spoke of his cricket-crazy grandfather, former Navy Chief late Admiral Ramdas, who was thrilled when he talked about this project and told him nostalgic tales about Farokh Engineer, Nari Contractor, Polly Umrigar and many other familiar and much-loved names.

Parsi Dharamsala

In the evening, a grand function was organised at the Dharamsala, with felicitations to those deserving in the community, rounds of tombola, followed by a sumptuous dinner comprising sali marghi, chicken farcha, mutton biryani and apricot delight. Awards were also given to the best dressed.

Navroz table

A Navroz table was set up at the Dharamsala. It is customary to lay a table and place a copy of a prayer book, a lit lamp, a shallow ceramic plate with sprouted wheat, a small bowl with a silver coin, flowers, painted eggs, sweets and rosewater, fruit, nuts and dry fruits. These signify prosperity, wealth, productivity, sweetness and happiness. Jamshedi Navroz is considered a festival of hope, life and colour. It keeps Zoroastrians in touch with their glorious past and with nature and religion.