Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 52

PARSEE FESTIVALS AND OBSERVANCES.

PARSEE.

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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 Shanshahis 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 Intermarriage is allowed as well as admission to each other's places of worship.

prayer.

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 rejoicing 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 observance of those who were attached to his favourite doctrines of the "Ilahi 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 most universally kept is the Papeti, or new year's day. On this day the Parsees rise early, and dress themselves in new suits of clothes, and those piously disposed say their prayers in their private residences or visit their friends and rela- tives, when the "Hama-jor" 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 morning thus occu- pied, they spend the rest of the day in their country houses or clubs, where feasting and rejoicings are kept up till a late hour. Alms are also given to the poor in the course of the day, and new suits of clothes are presented to servants and dependents.

The ancient Persians reckoned a new era from the accession of each successive monarch, and as Yezdezerd, of the Sassanian dynasty, was their last King, when dethroned by Caliph Omar about A.D 640, the date of his accession to the throne has been brought down to the present time, thus making their current year 1254-55.

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.

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The year is divided into twelve months, of 30 days each, and five days, or "Gathas

as these are named, added at the end to make up the deficiency. These five Gatha days are held as the most sacred in the year, and those piously disposed spend them solely in prayers.

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 Hystapis, about 520 years before Christ. Heeren places the birth of this celebrated personage about 1,200 years anterior to this. Parsees themselves differ as to the exact time of the birth of their prophet; a part of them fix the period at B.C. 389, others at B.C. 538. Religious ceremonies are performed in the morning by the women of the family and the priests; the men, as usual on such occasions, limiting themselves to private prayers.

AMURDAD SAL.-This holiday, which falls on the day immediately after the preceding 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 religions ceremonies are required, and the day is always spent in the enjoyment of pleasures.

Faruhardin JASAN.-This day is set apart for the performance of ceremonies for the dead, “ Faruhar" meaning soul or spirit. The religious portion of the people