Inter-faith Intra-faith Shi'ism

Navroz Mubarak 2007

Yes, it is a hybrid date format. But the holiday is now hybrid. Little bit of Zoroastrianism, little bit of Iranian nationalism, little bit of Islam, little bit of 21st century style globalization. Here is a good, short history of contemporary Navroz. Just a clarification, the Ismailis don’t recognize Navroz as Hazrat Ali’s birthday, we recognize Yawm-e Ali as a separate holiday. Navroz is also a marker of the solar new year for most Ismailis. The Fatimids marked a celebration of the holiday as well in the 11th century. (see Ritual, Politics and the City in Fatimid Cairo). Here’s the…

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Literature

First Day of Spring

On this perfect day, perfect for forgetting God, why are they – Hindu or Muslim, Gentile or Jew – shouting again some godforsaken word of God? Agha, Shahid Ali. The Country Without a Post Office: Poems. New York: W.W. Norton, 1997, pg. 77. cross-posted from Qalandar Technorati Tags: Agha Shahid Ali

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