Nowruz Festival in Pakistan - All You Need to Know
Overview
Nowruz, also known as Nowruz, is a celebration marking the first day of spring. Its roots can be traced back to Zoroastrianism, a pre-Islamic religion in Iran that was celebrated in much of the ancient Near East three thousand years ago. People all over the world, from West Asia and the Caucasus to Central and South Asia, including Pakistan, celebrate Nowruz Festival for 13 days, each with its unique local variation.
How do Pakistanis celebrate Nowruz?
Nowruz Festival is observed by Shia, Ismaili, and some Hazara communities in Pakistan, but not by other populations. Balochs are often present in celebrations of this traditional event.
Themes of purity and rebirth are at the heart of many spring celebrations. Regeneration-focused activities such as cleaning, planting trees, making new clothes, and decorating eggs are still popular ahead of Nowruz.
The day before Nowruz, relatives' graves are visited and cared for, and families gather around a table to savor traditional dishes. There is a large plate of silver or copper on the table, Samani (wheat) in the middle, candles, and colored eggs representing the number of family members around. At least seven courses will be served at the party.
Where does the Nowruz Festival celebrate around the world?
Nowruz begins with the spring equinox when the sun crosses the equator, and day and night are equal in length. It is mainly celebrated in the Kurdish regions of Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Turkey, as well as Parsis in India and diaspora communities in other parts of the world. During Nowruz, people usually wear various colors such as dark green, dark red, black, and blue, depending on their culture.
History
Pakistan's dominant Shiite group immigrated from Iran, so they have held traditional events there in the past as well. In addition to this, some Shiites who have not immigrated from Iran believe that since Iran marks the day as their homeland, they should also appear as Shia Muslims.
According to some interpretations by Shia Muslims, Nowruz Festival is the day when Hazrat Ali (may God be pleased with him) ascended the throne of the Islamic Caliph. A small minority of Muslims consider Nowruz a day when the universe takes a step forward. On this day, Hazrat Adam was born. Some Muslims believe that Hazrat Ali was also born that day.
One month before the festival, preparations for Nowruz Festival begin. The four Tuesdays preceding Nowruz are dedicated to different elements. The first is Water Tuesday, celebrating how water renews nature. The next day is Fire Tuesday, celebrating fire as a means of renewal. Then there is Earth Tuesday, commemorating the rebirth of the planet. Finally, on a windy Tuesday, the wind opened the buds, heralding the arrival of spring.
Fire offerings are an important aspect of the celebration, with flames lit on each of the four Tuesdays leading up to Nowruz. On the last Tuesday of every month, everyone should jump over the fire as a cleansing ritual.