Directory_and_Chronicle_1875 — Page 63

PARSEE FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.

larger portion of the Mabomedans unite in building the Tabuts. These are taken out, and, accompanied with music, carried in procession through the Bhendy Bazaar, from midnight of the ninth until three o'clock of the morning of the tenth day, and from two to six o'clock on the afternoon of the same day, on their way to the beach in Back Bay, where the greater part of the Tabuts, after being stripped of whatever is of value,are cast into the sea. The practice of building Tabuts seems to be losing ground in Bombay, a portion of those who formerly united in this, having adopted the views of those opposed to such things. The Indian Mahomedans, who do not unite in building the Tabuts, are accustomed to go on this occasion to the mosques for five successive evenings, to listen to the account of the death of Hossein. Their demonstrations of grief, however, are not equal to those of the Moguls and Persians, who while listening to the recital, weep aloud, and smite violently upon their breasts. These are accustomed to meet at the Masjid, in Mirza Mahomed Ali Khan Street, Bombay. In Bombay there is strictly speaking no representation of the battle which was fought previous to the death of Hossein. Some two or three horsemen, bearing flags, enter the large yard adjoining the Imanbares with loud wailings, and are followed by two horses caparisoned, to represent those which were for the use of the fallen Hossein. One person on horseback, with a long sword apparently run through the head, and covered with blood, joins in the wailings. A female infant, in deep mourning, sitting at the door of a small mausoleum, which is carried on shoulders of men, constantly cast ashes or cut-straw upon her head, in token of grief. These pass round in a circle, accompanied or followed by a company on foot who beat upon their breasts, crying, "Hai Hossein! Hai Hossein!" Sometimes, a person represented in a dying state, his body covered with wounds and blood, and darts and daggers run into it, is carried about in procession. It would seem that this festival is now celebrated with less effort and effect than formerly. It is apparently becoming more and more a farce. The grief is doubtless for the most part feigned. The decline of the peculiar zeal of the Mahomedans must necessarily lead them to enter into these with less spirit.-17th June.

PARSEE.

The Parsees of India are divided into two sects-the "Shanshahis" or "Rasmis," and the "Kudmis" or "Churigars," the former of whom constitute the larger portion of the race.

This division originated only about a hundred and fifty years ago, when a learned Persian priest, named Jamasp, arrived in India, and found that his co-religionists differed from their brethren of Iran in their calculation of time by a full month, and in other minor points relating to their "Liturgy." Serious disputes arose in

consequence, which ended in the formation of the two sects, the Shanshahahis adhering to their own views, and the Kudmis adopting the opinions imported by Jamasp-thus agreeing with their Persian brethren. Notwithstanding this division, no estrangement exists between them in their social intercourse. The difference lies only in their computation of time, and in some slight variations in their form of prayer. Intermarriage is allowed, as well as admission to each other's places of worship.

The festivals of the Parsees are celebrated with little or no outward pomp. Their holidays 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 the difference of creed. The Emperor Akbar adopted the "Nowroz ' and fourteen other festivals of the Parsees, for the observances of these who were attached to his favorable doctrines of the "Hahi faith," or the "Religion of God," which he fruitlessly endeavoured to introduce among the 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 honour of Yexdezerd, 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 each successive monarch, and as Yezdezerd had no successor, the date of his