Committed to encouraging inter-faith harmony, BVS Parsi High School in Karachi (Pakistan), celebrates all religious festivals of the BVS family, under the guidance of Principal – Kermin Parakh. Continuing its annual tradition, this year too, the Zoroastrian family of BVS celebrated Jamshedi Navroze with great zeal and fervour on 19th March, 2021 at the school.

Before starting the celebration, the Zoroastrian staff and students visited the Heerjibouy Dar-e-Meher to seek Ahura Mazda’s blessings. Upon returning, the staff and students decorated the Navroze Haft-Seen table with traditional items and delicacies.

Commencing the celebrations, the school priest, Er. Rohinton Mirza offered the Tandarosti Prayers, praying  for everyone’s good health. The students sprinkled rose water and showed a mirror to all who came to see the beautifully decorated table, repeating the phrase, “Ghulab jewa pamarta rhejo, Aarsi jewa chamakta rhejo!” (meaning ‘May you always smell sweet like a rose and shine like a mirror’.) In keeping with the mandatory need for social distancing, no one shook hands or hugged each other, but the heartfelt and joyful greetings with elbow bumps, more than made up for the affection!

Over the previous years, BVS Parsi High School has been taking the school band and the students to regale the elders and residents of the ‘BMH Parsi General Hospital’ and ‘Armaan House for the Elderly’. Unfortunately, this was not possible due to the ongoing pandemic. May Ahura Mazda always shower His choicest blessings unto our Alma mater and may we spread the values of the motto of our school – ‘Towards That Best Light’ – all around, always!

The celebrations can be viewed on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVICoS9DhJk

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[Contributed by Perveen Pohwala – Head Primary]