Khordad Sal 2028: Date, History & Significance

The day is marked with the Jashan thanksgiving ceremony, the recitation of the Gathas (the prophet's own hymns), sermons on his message — good thoughts, good words, good deeds (humata, hukhta, huvarshta) — new clothes, visits, and a feast. Because the actual birth date is unknown, tradition placed it on this auspicious sixth day of the year; it is sometimes called the 'Greater Nowruz'.

Zarathushtra, born in ancient Iran (dated by scholars anywhere from about 1500 to 600 BCE), received a revelation of Ahura Mazda as the one uncreated creator, and preached the choice every person faces between asha (truth, order) and druj (the lie). His teaching — the first clearly ethical monotheism, with its emphasis on free will, the accountability of every act, and a final renewal of the world — shaped later religious thought far beyond Iran.

Source: The scriptures and calendar of the tradition; community religious practice in India

Khordad Sal has been a principal Zoroastrian feast for many centuries; its date, like Navroz, differs between the Shahenshahi (August), Kadmi and Fasli (spring) calendars. It is not usually a separate public holiday from the Parsi New Year in India.

• Wikipedia

1. Parsis visit the fire temple to pray and offer sandalwood to the sacred fire in honour of Zarathushtra's birth.
2. A Jashan is performed, and many community halls and anjumans hold gatherings and talks on the prophet's teaching.
3. At home the day is kept like Navroz, with rangoli, new clothes, visits and a festive meal.

• Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat. The Jashan, Gatha recitation and a sermon on the prophet's life; a community lunch or dinner at the baug or agiary six days after Navroz.

• Sev and ravo — The festive breakfast.
• Pulao dal and patra ni machhi — Fragrant rice with dal, and fish steamed in banana leaf with green chutney, for lunch.

Khordad Sal falls on Tuesday, 22 August 2028. Zarathushtra's birthday, six days after Navroz.

at sunrise

Khordad (6th) day of Farvardin (1st) month — the sixth day of the Zoroastrian New Year. The Zoroastrian Shahenshahi calendar has a fixed 365-day year with no leap day and has drifted against the seasons, while the Fasli reform re-fixes the year to the spring equinox.

The date is set by the Hindu lunisolar calendar and shifts against the Gregorian year.