Navroz On March 21, Ismaili Muslims worldwide observe Navroz (Nowruz), a festival celebrated in many Muslim communities and cultures, particularly those belonging to the Shia. For many communities, it marks the beginning of a new year and the first day of spring. More generally, it signifies a time of spiritual renewal and physical rejuvenation, as well as the spirit of gratitude for blessings and an outlook of hope and optimism towards the future. In Zoroastrianism, Navroz is the seventh feast marking the end of the six days of creation. On this day, fire was created and the world was given life. For the Zoroastrians, it is a festival of renewal. In preparation for New Year’s Day, seven kinds of seeds were sown beforehand, whose shoots come up green and fresh on the day of Navroz. The growing of barley was viewed as a particular blessing by the King of Persia. Navroz was a celebration observed by a people involved in agriculture and deeply connected to the land. During the Alamut period (1090-1256), Ismailis living in Persia were farmers and hence prepared for harvest in the spring. Unlike other religious festivals that remember an event or a person, Navroz focuses on nature and spirit; it is tied to the changing of the season and the renewal of the land. In the Holy Qur’an, God has entrusted humans with two tasks: to be His servant, and to be the steward of His creation. Navroz is a time for spiritual renewal and a time to reflect on humankind’s responsibility towards God’s magnificent creation. The festival of Navroz, therefore, commemorates a centuries-old, agrarian (agriculture based) custom that over time was integrated into various cultures and faith traditions. Today, Navroz is celebrated in many parts of the Middle East and Central and South Asia, particularly among peoples influenced by Persian and Turkic civilisations. In countries such as Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, Navroz is observed as a public holiday. In many of these countries, the holidays last from 2 to 10 days, and families visit each other and organize picnics. In Surah Ya-Sin of the Holy Qur’an, Allah says: Let the once dead earth be a sign to them. We gave it life, and from it produced grain for their sustenance. We planted it with palm and the vine and watered it with gushing springs, so that men might feed on its fruit. It was not their hands that made all this. Should they not give thanks? — Surah 36, Verses 33–35 NAVROZ MUBARAK..!
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:45:22 +0000
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