To most interfaith couples Parsiana queried it is more important that children understand the universality of religion, rather than the superiority of the mother’s or father’s faith. An overwhelming majority of the 22 respondents who answered our Parsiana questionnaire were in favor of the child imbibing the religious tenets from both their parents (see "Divine dilemma,” pg 46).
While our Zoroastrian respondents who had outmarried in the last century were not keen to get their offspring navjoted due to various reasons, the millennials who have wed in the 21st century would like to see their children initiated into the Zoroastrian faith. However, neither was their union solemnized at a baug nor are they keen on a navjote celebration at a community venue. How long then will these once popular sites be utilized or remain financially viable?
Just as we did in our calendar issue for our 60th anniversary in 2024, we are once again carrying visuals of some of our eye-catching front covers, corresponding to the respective months in earlier years, to brighten the pages and recall Parsiana’s eventful journey.
Cause for celebration
Our "Celebrations guide” (pg 56) has attempted to list the gamut of services available under different heads. To confirm that the service providers are still operating, Parsiana has contacted them but if unable to reach them despite repeated attempts, we have not included them in the list. The primarily Bombay based free listing is mainly of Parsi establishments although certain non-Parsi ones patronized by the community have been included. Where known, outstation facilities have also been accommodated. We realize the list may not be exhaustive and hope to be excused for any unintentional lapses. Also provided are the contact numbers of the popular venues in Bombay for the convenience of those planning a function. Parsiana is not able to verify the authenticity of each of the service providers listed. Readers are advised to exercise caution and ask for references if they so wish.
Choose your calendar
The accompanying 24 pages of the Gregorian calendar for the year 2026 (see pp 22-45) provide a ready reference for those who want to know the mah and roz of a certain date according to the Shahenshahi (S), Kadmi (K) and Fasli (F) calendars. The abbreviated version of the mah in each calendar is specified at the top of the page (please refer to the list of abbreviations at the end of this introduction in case of doubt).
From UK based independent researcher, the late Farrokh Vajifdar, we have gleaned that in ancient Iran there were several calendars in use. The earliest time-reckoner, suited to an agro-pastoral society, was luni-solar comprising 12 months of 30 days each. Later the priesthood introduced the five Gatha days or the panjag-i weh — "the good pentad” — to bring the total to 365 days in a year. Dastur (Dr) FirozeKotwal observed that he has found some members of the laity, and occasionally even the priests, erroneously including the Gatha days in the last month, Spandarmad, when reciting the day of prayers. These five Gatha days stand independently when no month name should be recited.
Since no allowance was made for the additional quarter day each year, the calendar became noticeably out of step with the seasons. That is when the ancient Zoroastrians added an extra month of 30 days every 120 years (¼ x 120 = 30), a feature that was not observed consistently. The last time this one-month calendar rectification was made in Iran was in 375 Anno Yazdegirdi (AY = in the year of Yazdegird) or 1005/6 Common Era (CE).
In India, this one-month intercalation was last attempted in 1125/6 CE and the calendar has since been referred to as the Shahenshahi (or royal) calendar. When Dastur Jamasp (called Vilayati) of Kerman visited India he pointed out the one month discrepancy between the calendars in Iran and India following which some Parsis broke away from the Shahenshahis and in 1745 established the Kadmi (ancient) calendar. Neither the Kadmi nor the Shahenshahi calendar now synchronizes with the seasons or the gahanbars and hence festivals are observed at inappropriate times.
The accurate calendar followed by the Iranians and Faslis — called the sal-i-denig or Din-i sal ("the religious year”) — observes the gahanbars, the seasonal solar months, festivals, muktads and paravs at the correct time with the recitation of prayers serving a meaningful role, explained Vajifdar.
The Iranians continue to observe March 21, the spring equinox, as their New Year for it signifies fresh growth and awakening after months of harsh winter and hibernation. The Zoroastrians in India who consider Jamshedi Navroz or March 21 as their New Year are the Faslis (Fasli means seasonal in Arabic) who have their roots in the Zarthosti Fasli Sal Mandal founded by Kharshedji Cama in 1906. Following the leap year logic, they add a sixth Gatha day, Roz-e Wahizag, every four years to ensure that their New Year is permanently celebrated on March 21.
Next to the month line atop every page, readers will notice the year according to the Yazdegirdi era (AY 1394/95/96) for the Fasli, Kadmi and Shahenshahi calendars. This dates back to the coronation of the last Zoroastrian Sasanian King Yazdegird III in 632 CE. There are some Zarathushtis in Iran and members of the Zarathushtrian Assembly who believe that the Yazdegirdi era reminds them of the last Zarathushti emperor who was overthrown by Arab invaders. They would rather calculate the Zarathushtrian Religious Era (ZRE) 3762/63 from the vernal equinox in 1737 BCE when Zarathushtra supposedly proclaimed his divine message to humanity.
The mahs, with abbreviations: Fravardin (Frav), Ardibehesht (Ardi), Khordad (Khor), Tir (Tir), Amardad (Amar), Shahrevar (Shah), Meher (Meh), Avan (Avan), Adar (Adar), Dae (Dae), Bahman (Bahm), Spandarmad (Span).
We are very grateful to Binaifer Kaiwaan Patel of Nilgiri Herbs Private Limited for supporting the Parsiana calendar.