Navjote

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The Navjote or Sedreh pushi ceremony is the Zoroastrian ritual in which an individual is inducted into the religion. The term navjote is used primarily by the Zoroastrians of India (the Parsis), while sedreh pushi is used primarily by the Zoroastrians of Iran.

The ceremony is simultaneously an investiture of the Sedreh and Kushti, the garments that play a central role in the religious life of a Zoroastrian.

Although there is no upper limit to the age of the individual for which the ceremony takes place, in common practice it occurs before a girl or boy reaches maturity. Under no circumstances is it permitted to be done for a child less than seven years of age since the child is expected to comprehend the significance of the event.

Like most Zoroastrian rituals, Navjote takes place in the presence of a fire (see Atar). In the case of this ceremony, which takes place in a public place, the fire is not sanctified and following the event it is allowed to die out.

Following the ceremony, an individual from a lay family is addressed in the liturgy as a behdin, "follower of the [good] religion". This may be distinguished from the title for a member of a clerical family who is henceforth addressed as an osta (for males) or an osti (for females). This does not change unless the individual actually joins the priesthood.

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Last updated on Wednesday February 06, 2008 at 13:16:01 PST (GMT -0800)
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