Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

Arts & Culture Culture, Arts, Literature & Linguistics
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I heard Ismailis around the world celebrate this day (13th December).

What does ***Khushali ***mean in Agha Khani Culture? What is historical significance of it?

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

Aga Khanis have 3 celebrations/Khusali's which they revere:

1) Dec 13th which is Saalgirah Mubarak, meaning Karim Aga Khan's birthday. (the date of this khushali changes when a new Aga Khan is named)

2) July 11- Taqt Nashini/Imamat Day (to mark the day the current Hazar Imam started his imamat-- this day will also change when another Aga Khan is named)

3) March 21- Navroz (this is the only Khushali which date remains constant)

These 3 Khushalis are celebrated with special majlis', daandiya raas and other celebrations in the Jamat Khana.

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

:eek:

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

Kya huwa?! Why so hairaan?

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

What is navroz and dandiya raas?

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

Navroz marks the beginning of a new year and the first day of spring. More generally, it signifies a time of spiritual renewal and physical rejuvenation, as well as the spirit of gratitude for blessings and an outlook of hope and optimism towards the future. It's celebrated by many different branches of Shias, and also by Parsis and Persians, and others across Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

Taken from an Ismali website:

Ismailis across the globe celebrate Navroz with the recital of devotional poetry in the form of*ginans*, qasidas, and manqabas. Dried fruits, nuts and grains are distributed among Jamati members, symbolising blessings of abundance and sustenance. Navroz is also a time of family gatherings and celebratory meals, thus strengthening family bonds and fraternal ties.

Daandiya Raas is a dance. You know with the sticks? Ismailis are all predominately Gujrati, so their heritage draws on many Gujarati customs. They also do garba, which they call "rasura".

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

coz dandiya raas is basically a navratri thing, and is supposed to depict krishna and radha's plays. i'm guessing the aga khanis got it via the gujarat connection.

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

exactly this. ismailism is deeply rooted in the gujarati culture. most of their devotionals are either in the gujarati language or khojki..in fact, in the time of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, the current Aga Khan's grandfather, the Ismaili dua was solely recited in gujarati

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

expanding on the gujarati roots of the ismaili community...if you've ever attended an Ismaili wedding, they call the mayoun/haldi ceremony "pithi"...they also make the swastika out of rice on the floor as a auspicious symbol...they do the blessing with rice/chiraking it over the bride and grooms head...they carry those dome shaped things on their heads just like in gujarati weddings....they do the stomping of the little clay pots with the right foot to signify good luck....many, many similarities

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

نوروز‎

Naya Din… Rest of the details are already posted by Khattichic… :biggthumb:

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

Khatti:

so, the festivities mostly revolve around the Haazir Imaam? :hmmm:

i think, not sure though, Navroz is also celebrated by Paarsis…[Zoroastrians]…nothing to do with Ismailis…i think they have just the same name.

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

Yes, the Khushalis all revolve around the Haazir Imam

As far as Navroz and the Ismaili connection, I’m not quite sure I understand your question?

Navroz is very much an Ismaili tareeqa…adopted from the time of the Fatimad Caliphate and later the Abbasid Caliphate:

“Navroz has been an important event in Ismaili history since it marked the birth of Imam Hazrat Ali. Salman Al-Fars, Farsi (Salman the Persian) was a disciple of the Prophet when Islam was just born. Salman became a Muslim on the day of Navroz and would bring gifts to the Prophet and the Imam and they would celebrate Navroz. Imam Hussain’s wife, Hazrat Sheher Banu was the daughter of the emperor of Iran and the Ahl-e-Bait (people of the house of the Prophet) used to celebrate Navroz with sweets prepared at home. During the time of the Fatimid Caliphs, Navroz was a national holiday. The city of Cairo and Alexandria would be lighted with lamps (chiraag), again the light motif, at the time of Imam Muiz. People celebrated Navroz due to the Farman or order of Imam and on that day they dressed in shiny and bright clothing, denoting light in their hearts, to express their happiness at a new beginning and their spiritual journey. They went boating on the River Nile and had picnics. During the Alamut period in Iran, the Imam gaveDidaar and distributed wheat, misry (sugar cubes) and dry fruits (miveh) to the farmers, which is distributed today as Rozi, again light!and the Imam would pray for their good health and worldly and spiritual progress. The 46th Imam Hasan Ali Shah migrated to India from Mahallat, Iran. On the day of Navroz He used to shower titles, gifts and prayers upon the leaders and the Jamat. Today, Navroz is celebrated in the Jamat Khana with special prayers and rejoicing including mehndi application, sherbet - a milk and sugar drink infused with nuts and basil seeds and feasts of safron rice, Biriyani.”

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

oh ok...thank you for the info. it's quite interesting.

oh, i LOVE the milk sherbat with mevaas [badaam, pista] with desi ghee kaa baghaar...we used to have it on Eid day before going to Eidgaah for Eid prayers. very energetic drink it was! :)

the drink is called turrii...i'm not sure if the name was given locally or is know across the subcontinent by this name.

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

probably queer doesn't know Gujarati links of Agha Khanis

lols , he guessed it correctly.

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Re: Khushali in Agha Khani Culture

Good information, thanks for sharing khatti.