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.