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J&K LG, Others Extend Greetings
Srinagar- Nawroz was today celebrated across Kashmir with religious and traditional fervor. The Shiite Muslims held special prayers and organized grand meals consisting of a wide variety of dishes in their homes.
It is widely believed that Hazrat Ali (A.S), Prophet Mohammad’s companion and son-in-law, assumed caliphate on this day.
The day formally marks the start of the spring season, and with that, activities related to farming are also flagged off. On the day of Nawroz, World Arbor Day is also celebrated which is marked by the planting of flower saplings, trees.
Navroz hold high esteem among Shiite Muslims and out of happiness and to express their joy on the day, they specifically cook ‘Nadur’ and fish and invite their relatives, neighbors and friends to join them over the feast. They also have certain religious connotations to the day.
The day starts with the special prayers and during the day friends and relatives visit and greets each other; wearing new clothes children go to the parks to celebrate the festival.
Muslims, mainly from the Shiite community during pre-dawn hours, visit graveyards to pray for their deceased family members or relatives. Special dishes which include fish, meat, chicken and Nadroo (lotus-stem) are prepared on the occasion.
On the day of Navroz, people go for leech therapy which is considered to be an effective old practice for the treatment of various ailments as the practitioners believe that leech therapy cures many diseases like skin diseases, arthritis, chronic headaches, sinusitis, etc.
Many people think attaching live leeches to the human body can cure chronic diseases. This old-age traditional method of curing diseases is still prevailing in Kashmir.
Navroz, which literally means a ‘new day’, is the beginning of the New Year of the Persian calendar. The day also marks the beginning of farming and plantation in the Kashmir valley, the festive day also marks the formal arrival of the spring season in the valley, while farmers believe that seeds sown on Navroz blooms into healthy plants.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha also extended his warm greetings to the people, on the occasion of Navroz. In his message, the Lt Governor said that the auspicious occasion of Navroz symbolizes new beginnings and celebration of seasons.
“May the festival bring happiness, health and prosperity to all,” the Lt Governor said.
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