Transcript navjote

Navjote: Initiation into the Zoroastrian Faith
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Navjote is the induction of a child into the fold
of the Zoroastrian religion. The word Navjote
is made up of two terms: (1) Nao meaning new,
and (2) Jotë meaning one who offers prayers.
Hence the word Navjote has been interpreted
to mean a new initiate who will offer
Zoroastrian prayers.
The Parsis (Zoroastrian of India) believe that a
Zoroastrian child between the age of seven and
fifteen must be invested with the Sedreh (shirt)
and Kusti (girdle) which are the visible insignia
of the religion.
For the formal ceremony of admission of the
child to the Zoroastrian fold, relatives and
friends are invited. They bear witness to the
declaration of the candidate's acceptance of the
Zoroastrian religion during the ceremony
when the child is invested with Sedreh and
Kusti.
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The officiating priest and the child sit down and the
priest does a "Tila" (a mark with a red powder) on
the child's forehead, puts a garland around the
child's neck and hands him a bouquet of flowers
and coconut, beatle leaves etc. These are considered
to be symbols of good luck.
The officiating priest then gives the final
benediction for the health, wealth and well-being of
the child by reciting the Doa Tandarosti prayer.
He periodically showers the mixture of rice, slices of
coconut etc. upon the child's head, as a symbolic
gesture to ensure prosperity and plenty in the life of
the newly initiated Zoroastrian.