We should find it both amusing and inappropriate when we are wished, "A very happy Pateti,” or worse still, "Papeti,” on Parsi New Year. Patet means to turn back from our sins and repent for our faults and misdeeds.
And when we wish each other happy Pateti with smiles, hugs and kisses are we not saying: "How delightful is the day of repentance! Let’s feast and be merry and gorge ourselves into indigestion and then turn away from our sins of gluttony! Or let us revel in our repentance and remorse and make light of our sins! Let’s eat, drink and be merry first and repent at leisure afterwards!”
But I cannot help admitting that the insights gained by understanding are a bit pedantic. Let’s be content with a quick mindless Yatha / Ashem and make merry with a bottle of wine to uplift our spirits to heights of gastronomic ecstasy!
ABAN MUKHERJI
mukherji.aban@gmail.com
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