Navroz is a festival that brings people together to celebrate the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year.
Navroz, also known as Nowruz or Persian New Year, is a vibrant festival celebrated by people of Persian and Central Asian origin. It marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year according to the Zoroastrian calendar. In the beautiful valley of Kashmir, Navroz is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by the local population. The festival is a cultural extravaganza that showcases the rich heritage and diversity of the region. If you happen to be in Kashmir during Navroz, here’s what you can expect and how you can make the most of this colorful festival.
Navroz is celebrated by both the Shia and Sunni communities in Kashmir. It holds immense significance as it is believed to bring luck, prosperity, and abundance in the coming year. The festival is also a symbol of unity and togetherness, as people from different communities come together to participate in the festive celebrations.
The preparations for Navroz in Kashmir begin well in advance. Homes are cleaned and decorated with flowers and lights to welcome the festival. Traditional delicacies are prepared, and new clothes are bought to wear on the day of Navroz. Markets, especially in the capital city of Srinagar, are adorned with colorful stalls selling a variety of items like clothes, jewelry, handicrafts, and local produce.
On the day of Navroz, people wake up early and wear their new clothes. They visit their local mosques or shrines to offer prayers and seek blessings for the year ahead. Special communal prayers are held, and religious leaders deliver sermons emphasizing the importance of unity and harmony. After the prayers, people gather with their friends and family to enjoy a lavish feast.
The feast, known as ‘haakh and rista,’ is a traditional meal comprising of various dishes, including Kashmiri saag (greens) and meatballs. The aroma of these delicacies fills the air as families come together to share a hearty meal and exchange gifts. It is also common for people to visit friends and neighbors, bearing gifts and sweets, as a gesture of goodwill and friendship.
The celebrations of Navroz in Kashmir go beyond religious customs and extend to cultural performances and activities. Colorful processions are taken out on the streets, with people dressed in vibrant traditional attire. The streets are filled with music, dance, and joy as locals showcase their cultural heritage through various art forms.
Traditional Kashmiri music, known as Sufiana Kalam, adds to the festive spirit. Local artists perform traditional dances like Rouf and Hafiza, mesmerizing the audience with their graceful movements and intricate footwork. Craftsmen and artisans display their skills with exquisite handcrafted items, such as papier-mache products, shawls, and traditional jewelry.
Navroz is a festival that brings people together to celebrate the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year. In Kashmir, it is a time of joy, unity, and cultural festivities. From traditional feasts to colorful processions and cultural performances, Navroz offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich heritage and traditions of the region. So, if you’re planning a trip to Kashmir, try to coincide it with the vibrant celebrations of Navroz. It will be an experience you’ll cherish forever.
In Kashmir valley, the famous almond blossom festival at Badam Wari on the foothills of Hari Parbat in Srinagar city has become the symbol of the onset of spring as well as Jashn-e-Bahar – Nowruz festival in recent times.
Even in Kashmir valley the Muslim community, especially Kashmir valley’s Shia community celebrates Nowruz on a big scale by preparing special meals of fish and lotus stem (Nadru), wearing new clothes, frequenting Kashmir’s famed gardens, parks and taking family tours on shikaras and most importantly planting new trees. It is a way of celebrating man’s ties with nature and thanking God and mother earth for its limitless bounty.
In Kashmir valley, the significance of Nowruz or Navreh lies in the age old secular spirit of Kashmiriyat, where Hindu Shaivite and Sufi Islam as well as Shia and Sunni brotherhood all come together to welcome the advent of spring after months of harsh winter in a non-religious manner in the true spirit of one Koshurness that encompasses all religions and sects of Kashmir. It is a pity that the celebrations of this wonderful festival has scaled down in recent times due to political turmoil. It is high time that, we the people of Kashmir once again strive to revive this amazing secular festival that marks the celebrations of the beauty of Kashmir and the communal and sectarian harmony of Kashmiri people that is the real hallmark of Kashmiriyat.
