their numbers are meagre but the city has a very distinct parsi presence they make a picture pretty sight on pateti as they emerge from agyari after offering prayers on their new year day though the traditional attire of beautifully embroidered saris in pastel shades for women and the ubiquitous black headgear of men provide that typical touch to the appearance it is colourfully dressed younger generation of parsis which provides the contemporary look for the more racy younger set the day is something to be done with 25yearold tushad jall says he looks at it as any other festival i celebrate this day with the same enthusiasm with which i would celebrate any other festival in our community there are two types the very orthodox who stick to traditions and the other who are more liberal but one thing that we all strictly adhere to is going to the fire temple there are approximately 400 parsi families in the city this ensures that everybody gets to meet each other on this special day zerbin rana says that the celebrations in the city are limited to visiting family and friends in mumbai there is this culture of watching theatre in the evening but in nagpur we hold a cultural meet two days later on the day that we call khordad sal pateti for us is all about gorging on goodies like rawa made from vermicelli and that typical parsi dish mutton samosa his sister ziyane adds for most of the younger set of parsis this is like any other day when we meet and have meals together but for me the most exciting part is the gifts that we receive from family and friends its eat drink and be happy for most parsis on new year day danush doongaji says his community is more concerned with being good human beings rituals do not form as much a part of this day as enjoying with them over a feast he says it is the celebratory mood of this day that appeals to parul patel a marwari girl married into a parsi family this is a small community which connects so well the fact that it is a open house at every parsi home on this day is what i find most amazing people keep dropping by and everybody is welcomed with delicious food and loads of warmth she says adds soraiya taneja a parsi married into a punjabi household i will be visiting the agyari and then greet my family and relatives