Parsi

The Parsi community, small in number, is confined by and large, to the city of Mumbai. The Parsis have many festivals but no pilgrimage sites per se. The festivals are not marked by grand processions and music. According to the Parsis there are six seasons in a year and a significant festival occurs in each. The Gahambars, as the festivities are called were originally agricultural in nature, but as Zoroastrianism spread far and wide, they took on a religious significance. Each day of the year is recognized as a day under the supervision of an angel. Each holy day is divided into five phases, presided over by five angels.The first Gahambar comes around on the eleventh day of the Parsi month ‘Ardibenesh’
 

Second on the eleventh of ‘Tir.,
Third on the twenty-sixth of ‘Shehnever’
Fourth- on the twenty-sixth of ‘Meher’.
Fifth on the sixteenth of ‘Dai’
Sixth on the first of ‘Gatha’
The Gahambars are days of great feasting and get-togethers.

Pateti is the New Year day of the older school of the Parsis. The day falls in the month of September. Parsis wear new clothes, offer prayers in the temples, give alms and arrange for sumptuous feasts at their homes.

The birth anniversary of Zoroaster, Khordad Sal is celebrated on the sixth day of the Parsi month, Farvardin, by offering prayers at the temples.

This day is observed as the death anniversary of the prophet Zoroaster, who is believed to have died in a temple while praying. The day is an occasion of mourning, and discourses are held on the life of the Prophet.

Some Parsis follow the Fasli calendar and their New Year starts with the Vernal Equinox. The New Year celebration dates back to the times of the legendary king of Persia, Jamshed. It is said, that King Jamshed brought about solar calculation into the Persian calendar, and also determined the date when the Sun enters the constellation of Aries, as the beginning of the year. This day came to be known as Navroz or Jamshed Navroz day. On this occasion, it was customary for the king to be weighed in gold and silver, and the money was then distributed to the poor.