The Silk Road was anything but smooth and silky when it was used centuries ago. It was hazardous with hostile terrain — desolate sand dunes in smouldering deserts, menacing mountains, vicious winds and venomous serpents. About 1600 km. of the Silk Road passed through the Gansu Corridor considered the ‘gold sector’ of the more than 6400 km long international route.
Zoroastrian merchants carrying goods from China across Central Asia, and often all the way to Europe, played a small part in the route’s success. Official records have documentation of fire-temples in Chinese cities across this route. China’s name for ancient Persia was Po-ssu. With merchandise along the Silk Route there also began a priceless exchange of ideas and culture.
One cultural outcome of the Silk route
That probably gave us the one unifying holiday which is celebrated on 21st March, the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere. It is celebrated by the Parsis as Jamshedi (Jamishidi) Navroz. Iran and Iranis around the globe also commemorate it as (Now)New (ruz)Day – that marks the Iranian New Year. Variously known as Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz, it is recognised as a public holiday in many countries along the Silk Route - Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq (by the Kurdish people), Kazakstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Bayan Olgii region of Mongolia, Kajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is estimated that nearly 190 million people celebrate Nowruz around the world.
Each country and peoples observe this day in their uniquely traditional ways but there are unifying factors too. It is the festival of life, hope, renewal, joy, thanksgiving, inner awakening with Mother Earth bursting forth in all her profusion, loveliness and majesty. Age old activities and common practices are combined with local customs on this occasion.
'Nowruzi poems' are written, published and recited around the time of this festival; a wide variety of traditional dances are also performed. Music plays a very important role. Many of the countries have their own traditional folk songs exclusively for the event. One instance is a well-known Afghan song “Molla Mammad Jaan;” it is believed to have originated in the city of Mazar-i Sharif but is also sung in Iran and Tajikistan. In Uzbekistan, Nowruz songs are performed by, the baxshi, shoirs and dostonchi who are time-honoured singers, story tellers, poets who keep folk stories alive. Similarly, in Kyrgyzstan, competitions take place between Akayns — story tellers or poets who make up tales about Nowruz.
This feast has a very ancient Persian origin and is believed to have started around the Sixth Century before Christ. The return of spring from under winter’s harshness has spiritual implications symbolising the victory of good over evil and joy over sorrow. With spiritual and physical revival it also signifies hope and cheerfulness plus gratitude for all blessings received.
Why Jamshidi Navroz?
The Parsis and Zoroastrian Iranis of India, associate it with the Persian King Jamshid who is believed to have deducted, with the help of astronomers, that the Sun leaves the constellation of Pisces and enters Aries on this day of the Gregorian calendar. It was also the great Persian king’s coronation day. It is celebrated on March 20/21 at the exact time when the Sun enters Aries from Pisces. Jamshid was the fourth king of the world. He had command over all the angels and demons of the world, and was both king and high priest of Hormuzd (middle Persian for Ahura Mazda). He was responsible for a great many inventions that made life more secure for his people: the manufacture of armour and weapons, the weaving and dyeing of clothes of linen, silk and wool, the building of houses of brick, the mining of jewels and precious metals, the making of perfumes and wine, the art of medicine, the navigation of the waters of the world in sailing ships. From the skin-clad followers of Keyumars, humanity had risen to a great civilization in Jamshid's time.*
The ancient Iranians celebrated the last 10 days of the year in their annual obligation feast of all souls, Hamaspathmaedaya (Farvardigan). They believed ‘farohars’, guardian angels of humans and also the spirits of the dead would come back for reunion. These spirits were entertained as honoured guests in their homes and were bidden a formal ritual farewell on the dawn of the New Year. The ten day festival also coincided with festivals celebrating the creation of fire and humans**
The most important and widespread part of Navroz is the setting up of the table called Haft Seen. It is laid out with ‘Sofreh’ a simple or elaborate table cloth which has a spread of 7 symbolic items whose names begin with the letter S in the Persian language. The letter “S” is taken from the word Spendan meaning holy. And the figure 7 is for the seven immortal archangels of Ahura Mazda (God) who guard the sky, waters, earth, fire, plants, animals, and humans
The seven representative articles are:
1. Sabzeh (wheat, barley or lentils sprouted in a dish) to symbolise rebirth, exhilaration, rejuvenation
2. Seeb (apples) symbolic of health and beauty
3. Samanoo (a sweet pudding of germinated wheat and flour) symbolises power and bravery
4. Somagh (sumac seeds) represents sunrise and the triumph of light over darkness
5. Seer (garlic) symbolic of good health and as a disinfectant
6. Sombal (hyacinth blooms) to denote fragrance
7. Serkeh (vinegar) to symbolise age and patience
In Zoroastrian homes, adorning the table are also a lit oil lamp, a copy of the Khordeh Avesta (Holy Book), a portrait of Prophet Zarathushtra, dry-fruits, fresh flowers, colourfully decorated eggs (fertility), Sekeh(coins for prosperity) and a mirror to ‘reflect light and wisdom’. Folklore has it that if you look into the mirror which has already reflected Navroz as it arrives and make a wish, you will have good vibrations and manifestations throughout the year.
The United Nations General Assembly declared it as the International Day of Navroz in 2010.
Bio
To Shernaz Wadia (Pune, India), reading and writing poems is one of the means to embark on an inward journey. She hopes her words will bring peace, hope and light into dark corners.
Her poems have been published in many Indian and international e-journals and anthologies. She has published her own book of poems "Whispers of the Soul" and two volumes of "Tapestry Poetry - A Fusion of Two Minds". It is an innovative form of collaborative poetry writing that she developed and co-authored together with her poetry partner Avril Meallem from Israel.