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PARSEE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.
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effort and effect than formerly. It is apparently becoming more and more a farce. grief is doubtless for the most part feigned. The decline of the peculiar zeal of the Ma- homedans must necessarily lead them to enter into these with less spirit.-Fide 16th June.
'PARSEE.
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The Parsees of India are divided into two sects,-the "Shahinshahis" or "Rastis, and the "Kudmis" or "Churigars," the former of whom constitute the larger portion of the race. This divison originated only about a hundred and fifty years ago, when a learn- Parsian priest, named Jamasp, arrived in India, and found that his co-religionists dif- a their brethren of Iran in their calculation of time by a full month, and in other como points relating to their "liturgy." Serious disputes arose in consequence, which the formation of the two sects, the Shahinshahis adhering to their own views, dhe kaunis adopting the opinions imported by Jamasp,-thus agreeing with their Aasian eqdiren. Notwithstanding this division, no estrangement exists between them is their social intercourse. The difference lies only in their computation of time, and in some slight variations in the forms of prayer. Intermarriage is allowed, as well as admis sion to each other's places of worship.
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The festivals of the Parsees, are celebrated with little or no outward pomp. Their ho lidays are mostly occupied in prayers in the morning, and festivities and rejoicings during the rest of the day. Some of their religious institutions are traced to a very ancient period. The festival of the NowROZ dates from upwards of three thousand years before Christ, and is kept to this day by most of the nations of Western Asia, notwithstanding their differences of creed. The Emperor Akbar adopted the "Nowroz" and fourteen other festivals of the Parsees, for the observance of those who were attached to his favorite doc- trines of the "Ilahi faith," or the "Religion of God," which he fruitlessly endeavoured to introduce among his people.
PAPETI OR NEW YEAR'S DAY.-Among the festivals observed by the Parsees, the first and universally kept, is the Papeti, or new year's day. This day is celebrated in ho- nor of Yezdejerd, the last King of the Sassanid dynasty, who was dethroned by Kalif Omar about A. D. 640. The ancient Persians reckoned a new era from the accession of cach' suc- cessive monarch, and as Yezdejerd had no successor, the date of his accession to the throne has been brought down to the present time, thus making their current year 1233-32 In their calculation of the year only 365 days are allowed; leap year is unknown to them, though there are records which prove that in every 120 years, one month was added to make it correspond with the solar year. The year is divided into twelve months of thirty days each, and five days, or "Gathas" as they are called, are added at the end to make up the deficiency. On these days the Parsis rise early, and dress themselves in new suits of clothes, and those piously disposed say their prayers in their private residences, or attend the fire-temples, where large congregations are gathered. After prayers the Parsees visit their friends and relations, when the "Hama-i-jur" or "joining of hands" is performed. This ceremony is a sort of greeting, corresponding to the European fashion of wishing each other a happy new year. Their friends and relations are invited to breakfast. The mor ning thus occupied, they spend the rest of the day in their country houses or clubs, where feasting, rejoicing, and nàch-parties are kept up till a late hour. Alms are
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given to the poor in the course of the day, and new suits of clothes are presented to servants and dependents..
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KHURDAD-SAL.-The second of the Parsee festivals is the "Khurdad-Sal" day, or the anniversary of the birth of their prophet Zoroaster, who they say was born in the city of Reh, in the North of Persia, in the reign of Darius Hystaspis about 520 years before Christ. Heeren places the birth of this celebrated personage about 1,200 years anterior to this. The Parsees themselves differ as to the exact time of the birth of their prophet; a part of them fix the period at B. G. 389; others at B. C. 638. Religious ceremonics are performed in the morning by the women of the family and the priests, the men, as usual on such oc- casions, limiting themselves to private prayers.
AMURDAD-SAL.This holiday, which falls on the day immediately after the prece ding festival, appears to have no origin in the books of the Parsees. It is merely kept up as the continuation of the "Khurdad-Sal; "no religious ceremonies are required, and the day is always spent in the enjoyment of epicurean pleasures.