The 10 days preceding Navroz are believed to be the period when the spirits of ancestors descend from heaven to earth
Hyderabad: The Zoroastrians observed Pateti on Thursday, a day of repentance and reflection on the past year. A day after Pateti comes the traditional new year Navroz.
The 10 days preceding Navroz are believed to be the period when the spirits of ancestors descend from heaven to earth. Those spirits, Parsis believe, return back on Pateti.
At the Maneckbai Chenoy Fire Temple, Abids, special prayers were conducted for the past 10 days. Hyderabad has a small Parsi community.
According to the temple’s associate priest, Kerfegar Bomansha Antia, “These days are observed as days of repentance. The first five days are called Muqtads and the remaining days are Gathas. During these 10 days, the souls are believed to come down from heaven and stay on earth. The 10th day is Pateti. On that night, as the day turns, the spirits depart. The following day marks the celebrations of the New Year.”
According to Ervad Burjorji Antia, “In the Avestan language, ‘Ahura’ means ‘Lord of Life’ and ‘Mazda’ means ‘All-Knowing and Omniscient.’
According to the teachings of the Gathas, there is one Eternal Essence, one God, the Divine Element, the one who has no equal.
