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Zoroastrian Religion
115
It has been celebrated as ‘Khordad Sal. The new year of the Parsis is called 'Pateti'. Pateti means asking for forgiveness. The first day of the new year is well-known as “Navroz'. On this day of 21st March, of new year the Parsis put on new clothes after getting up early, taking bath, and they perform worship, going to the Agiyari (temple), they decorate their houses and give alms to the poor persons, and distributing sweets, they exchange greetings (Sal Mubarak). Going to the temple, Ātas Behrām, they ask for good blessings. They perform ‘Pooja' of Fire. The Parsis, though believing in Monotheism, celebrate the festivals of various Gods of the Hindu Dharma.
‘Navjot’ is also celebrated very nicely. A son or a daughter, when comes to the age of seven, nine or eleven, is admitted to the Parsis' Dharma. On this day, the child concerned is made to wear a shirt of Dhacca’s ‘Malmal cloth. The Kusti is woven from 72 threads made of a sheep's wool. This Kusti is wrapped round the waist 3 times. Wearing a ‘malmal cap on head, the child prays five times in a day.
