Dear Readers,
When was the last time you truly felt ‘being Parsi’ – not just in name, but in spirit? Was it over a steaming plate of dhansak on a Sunday? Or while arguing passionately over which bakery makes the best mawa cake? Beneath all our quirks and our obsession with the Queen’s English, thrives the essence of our identity and the soul of our community – kept alive through our glorious, time-honoured traditions.
Our age-old customs are not mere rituals performed out of habit, they are the threads that weave our past into our present and carry us through tomorrow. In a world that’s sprinting towards the future (and what currently feels like ‘full-speed in the wrong direction’), it’s our traditions that gently remind us who we really are, anchoring us with a sense of both – community and continuity.
In a fast-changing world, it becomes that much more crucial for our minuscule community to hold on to our unique customs and traditions. They’re so much more than food and festivity… they are vessels of knowledge passed down generations, with love and expectations of preserving our values, wisdom and practices that define our uniqueness. Like the endearing ‘Ghee Khichdi’ tradition practised mainly by the spirited youth of Navsari, where young Parsis go from house to house, singing an age-old chant, collecting rice, dal, ghee, oil and water to appease the Rain Gods.
Or the auspicious ‘aachu-michu’ done before a major milestone for protection and blessings and sev-dahi on auspicious occasions. Or the Madav saro, Adarni, etc. during weddings for the couple’s happiness and longevity, or the famous lagan-nu-patru, where meals are served on banana leaves, or the chok patterns (rangoli) and glass-bead torans hanging at our doors. These nostalgic and meaningful traditions eloquently echo our roots and cultural legacy.
As custodians of our minuscule yet magnificent community, the responsibility to safeguard our traditions rests with each of us. Our customs aren’t quaint remnants of a bygone era, they are the cultural compass that guides us home, reaffirming our identity, and offering comfort and belonging. If we stop practising or passing them down, they will fade, and with them, will fade the spirit of our collective identity.
So, let us be the proud torchbearers of our heritage… not just preserving, but enthusiastically celebrating our traditions; passing them on with joy, not obligation. Let’s endeavour to make our traditions visible, vibrant and valued – in our homes and in our hearts. Because when we honour our roots, we don’t just preserve tradition, we breathe new life into it, ensuring it thrives for generations to come, carried forward with joy, purpose and pride!
Have a lovely weekend!
– Anahita
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