Srinagar, Mar 21 :Persian New Year Navroz was celebrated with traditional fervour in the Valley on Monday. As per practice, the day was marked by plantation activities and holding of special prayers by the Shia community.

Navroz, which literally means a ‘new day’, is the beginning of the New Year of the Persian calendar. It also marks the beginning of farming and plantation in the Kashmir valley.

On Navroz, the duration of day and night is same. We hold special prayers and prepare a whole lot of delicacies including ‘nadur’ (lotusstem) and fish, apart from dried turnip cooked with chicken to commemorate the day,” said a local.

He said Navroz holds religious significance for the Shias as they believe that Hazrat Ali, Prophet Mohammad’s companion and son-in-law, received ‘Khilafat’ on this day. “Come what may, it rains on Navroz and we see it as a blessing”, he added.

On the day of Nauroz, people traditionally prefer to go for leech therapy for treatment of various ailments.

While Navroz signifies a new beginning and also marks the formal arrival of the spring season in the Valley, farmers consider the day very auspicious. According to local traditions, farmers believe that a seed sown on Navroz blooms into a healthy plant.