Mirzapur actress Sherrnavaz Jijjan is all set to celebrate Parsi New Year the way she knows best- with prayers, food, family, and a generous dose of love for animals. Speaking to mid-day, she shares cherished traditions, childhood memories, and a gentle reminder that Dhansak isn’t the festive dish many think it is.

Favourite memory

For Sherrnavaz, Navroz begins at the fire temple, where her family lights a diya and prays for the well-being of everyone around them. “Then we come back home and start cooking,” she says with a laugh. “It’s like a big Greek family cooking together — sipping on beer or wine, eating, and enjoying the vibe. Even though we are a minority, we get everyone together. It’s a very inclusive celebration.”

Pride in nature and compassion

Ask her what she cherishes most about Parsi customs, and she speaks with deep pride, “We believe in humata, hukhta, hvarshta- good thoughts, good deeds, good words. We worship the elements of nature, and even after we pass away, our body goes back to nature. We are very inclusive of animals and every living being that shares this planet with us. We even have the ocean as part of our God. It’s a very nature-oriented way of life.”