The Spring Equinox, as observed in the Northern hemisphere, is the time when the sun crosses the celestial equator (an imaginary line in the sky above Earth’s equator). This phenomenon happens every year on March 19, 20, or 21. Usually, Zoroastrians celebrate the first day of spring on 21^st March. However, this year this ancient Iranian spring festival, Jamshedi Navruz, will be observed on Thursday, 20^th March, 2025 (at 2:31:30 pm, in India)

This seasonal phenomenon is scientifically termed the vernal equinox. ‘Vernal’ means new or fresh, and ‘Equinox’, is Latin for equal night. Thus, Vernal Equinox is when the sun produces the effect of equal day and night. The Spring Equinox also coincides with the time when the sun enters Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. In other words, it’s the time when everything is vernal – new or fresh. Though after December 21^st (Yalda), the days start getting longer, we still see more darkness than light in those three months, leading up to spring. The vernal equinox marks the turning point when daylight wins out over darkness. After the vernal equinox, the sun migrates north of the equator to arrive at the Tropic of the Cancer, also called the Summer Solstice and celebrated by Iranians as Tirgan.

Balance And Equality

Navruz celebrates equality and balance. Just the way night and day are equal, on this day, we celebrate the fact that all human beings are equal and we need to balance between our likes and dislikes and learn to celebrate unity in diversity.

Though Zoroastrians perceive light as positive and life-giving and darkness as negative and deathly, Navruz teaches us that we require a balance of both. Night is as important as day because the cycle of day and night, also known as the circadian rhythm, is crucial for regulating our sleep-wake cycle, allowing for rest and rejuvenation which is essential for our overall health and well-being. Essentially, both periods are necessary for life to function properly. On this occasion, night and day are in perfect balance and harmony and this is the day we must renew our commitment to find balance and harmony in our life – to take all setbacks and challenges of life in our stride and offer gratitude for what we have.

Ancient Spring Capital

The Great Achaemenian kings like Darius and Xerxes built Persepolis (city of the Persians) not just as a ceremonial spring capital but as a citadel of peace where more than twenty-two nations of that time came together in peace and harmony. One could say that Persepolis (Iranians prefer to call it Takht-e-Jamshid or throne of the legendary Shah Jamshid) was the world’s first League of all Nations.

Persepolis was built without high walls, barricades or fortification, signifying the fact that it was a bastion of peace and friendship where men and women of diverse beliefs, skin-colour and language came with gifts and smiles to strengthen bonds of friendship and enjoy the richness of each other’s diverse culture and promote posterity with peace and productivity.

Navruz 2025

It is believed that the year 2025 is a significant year because when the digits of this year are summed, they equal to nine (2 + 0 + 2 + 5 = 9). This makes the year 2025 a year ruled by the number 9, which is associated with the fiery planet Mars – the planet of energy, transformation, and courage.

In Indian numerology, ‘9’ is associated with selflessness, humanitarianism, and spiritual awareness. It’s considered a powerful number with transformative properties, believed to bring good fortune and prosperity. ‘9’ is also associated with completion and fulfilment, as it’s the last single-digit number, representing the end of a cycle.

Significance Of Number 9

In mythology, ‘9’ is often associated with spiritual growth and knowledge. For example, in Norse mythology, Odin hung from the world tree Yggdrasil for 9 days and 9 nights to gain wisdom and knowledge. In Greek mythology, 9 muses inspired creativity and art, while in Egyptian mythology, 9 gods presided over the underworld. In Christianity, there are 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). In Hinduism, there are 9 forms of Goddess Durga, each representing a different aspect of femininity and power. And, in Buddhism, there are 9 stages on the path to enlightenment. Interestingly, even the human gestation period is 9 months!

Significance Of ‘9’ In Zoroastrianism

In Zoroastrian tradition, there are 101 names and titles of Ahura Mazda. The 9^th name, ‘Chamag’ refers to the Lord or Creator of Reasoning. Some scholars also interpret this quality of Ahura Mazda as the Primordial Cause. In other words, the ninth name of Ahura Mazda signifies the original source of all existence embodying divine consciousness.

Zarathushtra is believed to have carried with him a nav-greh or 9-knotted staff, symbolic of the level of purity and perfection he had attained. The Yasna comprises 72 chapters, the sum of 7 and 2 again, is 9! The purificatory ceremony that Zoroastrian priests go through, called Barashnum, is also of 9 nights.

During the Boi ceremony, Zoroastrian priests ring the bell 9 times to drive away negative energy and usher good energy from the universe. The machi or throne for Iranshah (the first and oldest Atash Bahram Fire consecrated in India) too is of 9 sticks of sandalwood! Thus, the number ‘9’ in the Zoroastrian tradition is the alpha and the omega of life. It signifies cause of all that is and how it needs to be made wholesome or perfect.

Ushering Wholesomeness

The legendary great King Jamsheed of the Peshdad dynasty, initiated the tradition of celebrating the Spring Festival of Navruz (new day). This day marks a new beginning with celebration and contemplation for a better tomorrow for this world. Shah Jamsheed was a visionary who governed with an even hand. The Shah Nameh says there were no illnesses during his era – indicating that health and sanitation were top priorities. There was prosperity and so much growth that the king had to expand the boundaries of his kingdom at least thrice! Arts and crafts flourished. Even the discovery of wine is attributed to his era.

Shah Jamsheed also possessed the fabled Jaam-e-Jamsheed (goblet of Jamsheed) with which he gazed into the past and the future. Perhaps it was an ancient scientific instrument or an observatory to study the stars and planets and their effect on events of the past and future on earth. He was both, King and priest, and sought Divine guidance all through his long rule. When the ice age set in, he was divinely guided to create a Vara (enclosure) on a mountain and save Ahura Mazda’s good creations from destruction. This story has much in common with Noah’s Ark, referred to in the Old Testament.

One could say that Shah Jamsheed succeeded in bringing the world to wholesomeness. It is only appropriate therefore to name Navruz or the new day of the seasonal year after Jamsheed, who strived to bring purity and perfection to this world!