'Pateti', observed on the last day of the year before Navroz, is a festival of which community?

Pateti is a festival of the Parsi (Zoroastrian) community, observed on the last day of the Parsi year, just before Navroz, the Parsi New Year. The name comes from "patet", meaning repentance, and it is a day for reflecting on the thoughts, words and deeds of the past year and asking for forgiveness.

On Pateti, Parsis pray for forgiveness for their sins and resolve to follow the path of righteousness in the new year. They follow the three basic principles of Zoroastrianism: "Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta" (good thoughts, good words and good deeds). Many people use the name Pateti for the New Year celebrations as a whole, and the next day, Navroz, is celebrated with great joy. On Navroz, Parsis wear new clothes, visit the fire temple (agiary) to offer prayers and sandalwood to the sacred fire, greet each other with "Navroz Mubarak", decorate their homes with flowers and rangoli (chalk designs), and prepare special dishes such as sali boti, patra ni machhi, ravo and falooda. Parsis in India follow the Shahenshahi calendar, so their New Year usually falls in August.

Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world, founded by the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster) in ancient Persia (Iran). Its followers worship Ahura Mazda, the wise lord, and fire is regarded as a symbol of purity. The Parsis came to India from Persia in about the 8th-10th centuries CE to escape persecution and landed at Sanjan on the coast of Gujarat. They are a small but very influential community, and famous Parsis include Dadabhai Naoroji, Jamsetji Tata, Homi Bhabha and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

Other Parsi festivals include Jamshedi Navroz (21 March, the spring equinox), Khordad Sal (the birthday of Zarathustra) and Jashan-e-Mihragan.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Jains celebrate Paryushana and Mahavir Jayanti.
• ✗Sikhs celebrate Gurpurab and Baisakhi.
• ✗Jews celebrate Hanukkah and Rosh Hashanah.