सभी का स्वागत
All Welcome
All Welcome
We give thanks to our friend Chai T for this guest post on Navroz.
Each year, the spring equinox – when day and night are equal length – marks a transition in earth’s relationship with the sun. This event, sacred to many cultures throughout history, today thrives as a new year celebration for hundreds of millions.
In Bombay, London, and throughout the South Asian diaspora, between 20th and 21st March you’ll find many folks of the Zoroastrian faith (amongst others) celebrating this new year, or Navroz as we like to call it.
They may be Irani Zoroastrians – descendents of immigrants and refugees from Iran in the previous century who opened the much-loved Bombay Irani cafes evoked by Dishoom. They may be Parsi Zoroastrians – descendents of those arriving from ancient Iran perhaps 1,000 years earlier. Or both. But food and fellowship figure strongly for all who celebrate worldwide – in homes, community halls, and (nowadays) restaurants.
Navroz is the ancient new year celebration marking the vernal equinox and spring’s arrival. Observed by diverse communities across borders, cultures, and religions for thousands of years, it’s a holiday of unity, tolerance, kinship, and reconciliation.
It goes by many names – including Nowruz, Nooruz, Newroz, and Nevruz (all meaning ‘New Day’ in Persian-related languages). Thought to originate in pre-Zoroastrian and Zoroastrian times, it’s a cultural festivity for some; a religious observance for others. But it’s always an family-friendly celebration of life, nature, fertility, growth, and renewal.
Whatever the name, it’s observed by entire nations as a major festival – including Iran, Afghanistan, and across Central Asia; and by specific communities in the Balkans, Black Sea Basin, Caucasus, the Middle East, and South Asia; and diaspora nations like the UK. Some observe Navroz as a religious celebration – including Zoroastrian, Ismaili, and Baha’i communities. Others – including nations and communities (for example, people of Kurdish background) – celebrate as a cultural holiday, regardless of religion or national origin.
Many cultures – including Iranian Zoroastrians – observe the actual date and time of spring equinox – which varies yearly. Others – including Parsi Zoroastrians – celebrate on the fixed day of 21st March. Each celebrating culture has unique customs and festivities – often with spring cleaning, new clothes, special food, and reaffirming friendship or family connections.
At some Zoroastrian celebrations, you may see displays symbolising growth and renewal, representing two main Zoroastrian cultures: a South Asian Parsi-style silver ‘ses’ tray – including a coconut, rice, and flowers; alongside an Iranian-style ‘haft sin’ or ‘haft shin’ table including eggs, sprouted wheat, and goldfish.
Navroz can be a time of both spiritual cleansing and thanksgiving feasting – whether one is amongst family, friends, or on one’s own.
Navroz mubarak!
Chai T is a communications specialist, writer, and creative artist who has worked with media and institutions to raise visibility of Zoroastrian diasporic communities.
We often find it too easy to hurtle through the days, in an attempt to outpace the bustling city – be it London or Bombay – which always seems to be running away like a steam-engine train on a rickety track. Occasionally, it does us good to pause for thought, to disembark the carriage and sit on the platform awhile.
How does one create a space where people can truly connect over food? How can a host make their guests feel relaxed, at ease, and suitably cared for? Since launching our all-new Dishoom Crockery, we have been pondering the answers to these questions even more than usual. We recently discussed them with Creative Director - and frequent dinner party hostess - Kirthanaa Naidu when we invited her to create a first-class tablescape in our Canary Wharf café.
A nurturing presence, neatly packed lunches, and homes that exude warmth – radiating from the walls and from the person within. In uncertain times, we look to the motherly figures in our lives for gentle guidance, affection and life’s most important lessons. For those looking to show gratitude this Mother’s Day, new curiosities have appeared on the Dishoom Store. We hope to impart a little inspiration as we share gifts to guarantee warm smiles.
With parents hailing from Punjab and Rajasthan, growing up, our Head of Research and Development-walla, Chef Rishi Anand had access to the flavourful foods from both states. “One of the reasons I am a chef today is because of my mum’s food and my dad’s love for food. Both of them loved to cook and, importantly, they loved to feed mouth-watering dishes to those around them”, he says.