Around this time of the year I begin to dread the sound of the words 'Happy Pateti' or 'Pateti Mubarak' trilling off the mouths of friends, well wishers and others. With every such occurrence something inside me cringes and dies a small death. I have even had the word mangled and voiced as Papeti! A papeti is a diminutive papeto, Gujarati for a small/baby potato!
I have decided that this year I have to finally do something about it ... this just cant go on!
Most non-Parsis and to my complete open-mouthed amazement even a few Parsis think that the Parsi word for New Year is Pateti. Let me lay down the law for all of you here. The correct word for New Year or New Year's day is Navroze, and the correct greeting is Navroze Mubarak.
So then where does this word Pateti come from?
Pateti is the last day of the Parsi year. The day before Navroze. It is not a day of celebration but a day of intense introspection and a day when you go over your deeds of the last year and repent those that you realise did not conform to the Parsi credo- Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. A day you make amends with your self and your Maker, and promise that you will do better in the coming year. This may be done at home or at a fire temple. Many an old school Parsi will go to the local Agiary to do this.
The devout Parsi thus performs Patet on this day. He/she accepts his/her shortcomings, shows a readiness to accept the judgement for the same, and most importantly makes a resolution not to make the same mistakes in the coming year.
Thus unburdened of these misdeeds you make a fresh start with the next day and the New Year - Navroze!
And just like Good Friday and Moharram you don't wish someone on such a day.
So this year do it right, wish your Parsi friend a Happy Navroze.
Navroze Mubarak to all! And may this year bring you peace, prosperity and happiness.
Navroze khojeste baad. :)
ReplyDeleteWith respect to your last line, once a neighbour had given us Biryani made in their house on Moharram. Next day I asked a Muslim colleague whether we should give something back with the utensil and he said no. It wasn't a festive offering. So we didn't and instead gave chocolates after a suitable period.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a bit of the confusion on Pateti for non-Parsis stem from the fact that hotels, clubs and caterers offer Pateti meal deals and now that they are going outside the fold too for customers, the new folks are confused. The logic there would be there's a special Parsi meal which we can have and 'enjoyment' intuitively means celebration. Our intent is good ��
Same issue with Good Friday. To those not familiar with Christian tenets, 'good' would mean happy right? Like good morning
So efforts like post this should be made help outsiders understand one's customs just as they should make an effort to understand yours.
The more we know about each other and have empathy, the less will be the walls between people
So true Kalyan ... my angst is much greater when it comes to Parsis not knowing the difference ... they have no excuses!
DeleteWould this be similar to a Jain custom where they repent and ask for forgiveness?
Deleteyes quite similar but not a public one like the Jains, this is a personal introspection.
DeleteVery Good write-up. I hope people understand and do not wish Happy Pateti.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteNavroz Mubarak to you and yours.
Thanks for the very informative article! Navroze Mubarak!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, been telling my friends since years. I am happy at the explanation provided.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I loved the part about introspection.. Most definitely will do that!
DeletePeople just prefer to live in ignorance on things that they feel are not pertaining to 'their way'. It's pretty ridiculous that someone who ostensibly cares to wish someone doesn't try to at least figure the correct words to use! Great that you wrote this, Rox. And yes, hope that this Navroze, you get all the right kinds of Mubarak! Hope you and all at home have a great day! Eat some yummy food on my behalf too. Lotsa love.
ReplyDeleteThank u Navroze Mubarak to you too :)
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