Zoroastrians celebrate other thanksgiving days as well. These include the dates of the Prophet’s birth and death and days that recall the yazatas, such as the divinity of Rain and Fertility, the divinity of Water, and Mithra, the divinity of Sun and Justice. They also celebrate the fi ve Gatha days at the end of the year by remembering the fravashis of those who have died and by giving thanks for those in the present world whom they love and care for.
The ceremony in which young people are initiated into Zoroastrianism is known as navjote. Among Iranian Zoroastrians the age for navjote or, as it is called there, sudre-pushti, has traditionally been 15. Parsi Zoroastrians perform it at an earlier age, usually seven or nine, but no later than 11.
Training in the way of faith, which begins in babyhood, is the responsibility of the parents. With the navjote young people take on the responsibility for their own lives by choosing good over evil. From that time on their parents are no longer responsible for their actions. The navjote is the same for both boys and girls.
At the navjote the initiate receives the symbols of the religion. These are the sudreh and the kusti. The sudreh is a white muslin garment ceremonially made, which devout Zoroastrians wear as an undergarment. It symbolizes purity. The kusti is a cord that is wrapped around the body. It is woven from lamb’s wool and symbolizes Vohu Mana, the Good Mind. Besides being a reminder that the wearer is bound to the Good Religion, the kusti plays an important part in Zoroastrian daily prayer and ritual.
The Priesthood in Zoroastrianism
