Navroz | 21 Mar 2020

  • Navroz is the new year celebrations for Parsis (Zoroastrians) and Muslims (both Shia and Sunni).
  • It is celebrated on 21st March every year.
  • In 1079 AD, a Persian (Iranian) king named Jalaluddin Malekshah introduced this festival to generate revenue and collect taxes from people.
  • It was observed on March 21 to mark the beginning of spring and the day of equinox.
    • The equinoxes are the only time when both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere experience roughly equal amounts of daytime and nighttime.
    • The equinoxes happen in March (about March 21) and September (about September 23). These are the days when the Sun is exactly above the Equator, which makes day and night of equal length.
    • March equinox is also known as vernal or spring equinox and the September equinox is also known as autumnal or fall equinox.
  • It is inscribed in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of India.
  • In India it is known as Jamshed Navroz.
Intangible Cultural Heritage of India
Kumbh Mela Yoga Traditional brass and copper craft of utensils among thatheras of Punjab Sankirtana (ritual singing, dancing and drumming of Manipur)
Buddhist chanting of Ladakh Chhau Dance Kalbelia (folk song and dance of Rajasthan) Kutiyattam (a Sanskrit theatre of Kerala)
Tradition of Vedic Chanting,  Ramlila Novruz (Persian New Year) Ramman (religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas)
Mudiyettu (ritual theatre dance drama of Kerala)


Source: PIB