CM Fadnavis Greets Maharashtra on Parsi New Year
Synopsis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis greeted the Parsi community on Navroz — the Zoroastrian New Year also known as Pateti — with wishes for peace, prosperity, and new beginnings, posting in both English and Marathi on August 15, 2026.
Key Takeaways
Devendra Fadnavis , Chief Minister of Maharashtra, posted a Navroz greeting on August 15, 2026 .
He wrote 'Navroz Mubarak!' and wished everyone 'peace, prosperity, happiness and new beginnings.' The message was bilingual — English and Marathi — reflecting the state's linguistic character.
Maharashtra , especially Mumbai , hosts one of India's largest Parsi populations.
The greeting is part of a broader pattern of elected officials publicly marking minority community festivals.
The ancient Zoroastrian calendar turns a fresh page, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis marked the occasion with a warm public message on Saturday, August 15, 2026 — greeting the Parsi community on Navroz, the Parsi New Year also observed as Pateti.
Fadnavis posted in both English and Marathi, writing 'Navroz Mubarak!' and extending wishes for 'a year filled with peace, prosperity, happiness and new beginnings,' adding in Marathi: 'पारशी नववर्षाच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा!' ('Heartfelt greetings on the Parsi New Year!').
Maharashtra's Parsi Roots and Why the Greeting Carries Weight
Maharashtra — and Mumbai in particular — is home to one of India's largest and most historically influential Parsi populations. The community's contributions to Indian industry, law, and the arts have been outsized relative to its size, and elected leaders across party lines regularly mark Navroz as part of standard cultural outreach to minority communities. For Fadnavis, the greeting is a routine but symbolically visible gesture from the state's top office, signalling institutional acknowledgement of a community that has deep roots in western India's social and commercial fabric.Point of View
Which faces persistent scrutiny over its relationship with minority communities, such gestures carry added political subtext, even when the occasion is ceremonial. Maharashtra's large and historically prominent Parsi population makes this particular outreach more locally resonant than performative. The bilingual framing — English and Marathi — also reflects a careful calibration toward both the community and the broader Maharashtrian electorate.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Navroz or Parsi New Year?
Navroz is the Zoroastrian New Year celebrated by the Parsi community in India. It is also known as Pateti and marks the beginning of the Parsi calendar year, observed primarily in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Why did CM Devendra Fadnavis post a Navroz greeting?
As Chief Minister of Maharashtra — a state with one of India's largest Parsi populations — Fadnavis extended a public greeting as part of standard cultural outreach to minority communities on their festivals.
What did Devendra Fadnavis say on Parsi New Year 2026?
Fadnavis wrote 'Navroz Mubarak!' and wished everyone 'a year filled with peace, prosperity, happiness and new beginnings,' also posting in Marathi: 'पारशी नववर्षाच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा!'
Where is India's Parsi population concentrated?
India's Parsi community is concentrated primarily in Maharashtra, especially Mumbai, and in parts of Gujarat. Maharashtra hosts one of the country's largest Parsi populations.
