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You think the food is India is too overwhelming to understand? Wait till you learn about our peculiar food traditions. Today, we are celebrating the Navroz or Parsi New Year. There are two Navroz’s in an year. Navroz is an amalgamation of two words meaning new (or ‘Nav’) day (or ‘Roz’). According to the Iranian calendar, Navroz typically falls around March, but according to the Shahenshahi calendar Navroz is celebrated 200 days later, somewhere in the end of July or August in parts of India and Pakistan. You would be surprised to know that the classic Parsi dish of Dhansaak does not make it to either of the Navroz celebrations.
That’s right, Dhansaak is quite possibly one of the most popular Parsi dishes of all times. It is essentially a dish made with a mix of dals that is cooked with tender pieces of mutton. It is served with Kachumbar salad, some rice and some caremelised onions. Since the dish is so popular, there are vegetarian versions of the dish as well. Dhansaak is one of the hot-selling items in almost all popular Parsi restaurants. If your Parsi friends are calling you over on Sunday, you know the rich Dhansaak would be the piece de resistance of the spread. Then why is this iconic dish ruled out of Parsi Navroz Bhonu, or any major ‘celebratory’ occasion?
That is because unlike Biryani on Eid or Gujiya on Holi, Dhansaak is a dish which was primarily prepared on the 4th day after someone’s death by the grieving members of the family. It is served to people who visit the family to express their grief. This is why the mourning dish does not make it to the Navroz feast, which is essentially supposed to mark the beginning of something new, something afresh.
Having said that, there's plenty to look forward to in a typical Navroz Bhonu (feast) like papeta papti nu shak, lagan nu custard, prawns patio etc.
Happy Parsi New Year Everybody! Have a wonderful year ahead.
