While Pateti is generally
observed in August, it is not universal among
the Parsis. The Parsis follow one of three calendars.
It is the Shahenshahi, and most common, calendar,
which has Pateti and the new year in August. The
other calendars are the Fasli (the old Persian
calendar), which has the day in March, and the
Kadimi, which celebrates the festival one month
before the Shahenshahis.
The last Gatha day in the Parsi calendar is observed
as the Pateti. It is the day for offering Patet,
or repentance for sins of omission and commission
for the year that has to come to a close. Wearing
new clothes, the Parsis offer prayers at the temples,
give alms and arrange sumptuous feasts at their
homes.
India is a multicultural and multireligious country.
We have people belonging to different castes and
communities. Pateti is a festival of the Parsis
and it is celebrated on the eve of New Year of
the Zoroastrian calendar. On pateti day the parsis
visit the fire temple or agiary. The agiary is
called as a fire temple because the sacred fire
which was brought from Iran once upon a time is
always kept burning in the temple by the high
priest. The parsis worship Ahura Mazda, symbolised
by fire. The parsis on this day, promise to live
with good thoughts, use good words and perform
the right actions.
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