Ismaili Muslims worldwide observe Navroz (Nowruz), a festival that marks the beginning of a new year and the first day of spring. Navroz signifies a time of spiritual renewal and physical rejuvenation, as well as a spirit of gratitude for blessings and an outlook of hope and optimism.
Navroz commemorates a centuries-old, agrarian custom that over time was integrated into various cultures and faith traditions. Its origins are traced to ancient Persia, being the first day of the Persian solar year.
The celebration of Navroz has extended through various parts of the Muslim world and beyond, over the centuries. Today, Navroz is celebrated by some 300 million people in Iran, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and many other countries. In each of these different regions of the world, Navroz is observed in diverse ways. The commemorations blend together local cultures and customs with the religious beliefs and interpretations found in different regions of the world.
In Iran, Navroz is a national holiday for two weeks, and starts with a spring cleaning of the house. The moment that the sun crosses the celestial equator is calculated to the exact minute and second. At this moment, called Saal Tahvil, literally meaning “turning point of the year,” families gather together around the Haft Seen table to wish one another Navroz Mubarak, exchange gifts, and offer prayers.
In Surah Ya-Sin of the Holy Qur’an, Allah says:
There is a sign for them in the lifeless earth: We give it life and We produce grain from it for them to eat. We have put gardens of date palms and grapes in the earth, and We have made springs of water gush out of it so that they could eat its fruit. It was not their own hands that made all this. How can they not give thanks?
— Surah 36, Verses 33–35
Ismailis across the globe celebrate Navroz with the recital of devotional poetry in the form of ginans, qasidas, and manqabas. Dried fruits, nuts, and grains are distributed among Jamati members, symbolising blessings of abundance and sustenance. Navroz is also a time of family gatherings and celebratory meals, thus strengthening family bonds and fraternal ties.
On this occasion, The Ismaili warmly wishes Navroz Mubarak .
SOURCE : THEISMAILI
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