Delhi Parsis

click to read the full article in the HT ePaper

Adale Patel pointed us to an article that appeared in the Hindustan Times recently. Besides pointing out the fact that some of our Agiarys are being given “Heritage” status, the article titled “Enduring Fire” goes on to provide insights not just on what’s inside Agiarys, but also reveals some of the issues facing them.

“Their recent heritage listing offers hope for Mumbai’s Agiarys, caught in a spiral of rising costs, and dwindling patrons”

Read the whole article here >>

The text is by Chitrangadha Choudhury, and the photos by Satish Bate, in Mumbai for Hindustan Times

Here’s an amazing film about the ancient city of Perspolis (now in Iran). The film showcases a civilization that thrived 2500 years ago, and presents the grandeur of the Persian history during the reins of Cyrus, Darius and Xerxes between 550 and 300 BC. That period was the height of the Persian empire and the Zoroastrian religion.

This film is divided into 5 parts and presented on Youtube via Omidir.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

From Google Earth Community

The 2001 census in India put Parsis at 69,600. There are some 35,000 or 40,000 additionally, mainly in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Population estimates in India expect Parsis to come down to 20,000 by 2020. Apart from the UNESCO sponsored PARZOR (Parsi-Zoroastrian) project which is documenting the old Parsi traditions, there is no international - nor at any other level - effort (including within the minuscule community) to reverse the declining population.

This the story of a people, who out of a steadfast love of their identity, religion, beliefs, customs and ancient traditions and much more that goes to forming a people/nation, decided they would rather find refuge in a new land, than give up all that was precious and invaluable to them.

(click to read the full story)

The two families, walk up to the Prayer stage with the traditional Ses

The four children say their Kusti Prayers for the first time

 

It was an evening, that many of us will remember for a long time. It was an evening when not one or two, but four of our children were initiated into the Zoroastrian religion together at one time, with the priests performing their Navjote ceremony, in the presence of a crowd of over 200 people including friends and family.

The Navjote was performed by four priests, who took the children through the ritual bathing ceremony, made them wear their first Sudreh and Kusti, and blessed them as they said their prayers out aloud, formally for the first time in their lives as Zoroastrians.

The four children - Hoshang & Jennifer, Kainaz & Bahram - are cousins and were all excited during and after the ceremony, which was followed by a grand reception and dinner, in true, apro Parsi style!

May Ahura Mazda bless these children with lots of good health, happiness, knowledge and wealth. And may they live a good life, filled with Good Throughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds!

(Note: full names have been withheld to protect the privacy of the children and their families)

Frohar Films Presents - the only tele-serial on Zoroastrian Religion & Culture - ‘Humata Hukhta Hvarshta’ - Sunday 23rd March 2008, on Zee T.V. Gujarati - Zee Network, at 11.05 A.M.

In this episode History of IRANSHAH - [Part II] by Dastoorji - Khurshed Kekobad Dastoor of Udvada will be televised. In the last episode Dastoorji Saheb presented the ancient history of Sasanian Dynasty, till the Parsees came from Iran to India and how Jadi Rana - the then king of Gujarat gave shelter to the Parsis in his kingdom. 

In this episode he will present how Jadi Rana gave permission to Enthrone the PAK IRANSHAH in Sanjan and how Iranshah Atash Behram came into existence and traces the history of Its journey and the difficulties It faced from Sanjan till Its final establishment in Udvada where It remains till today.

This will be followed by the Song “ATASH NI SETAYASH” - written and composed by well known Music Director Late Shri Kersi Mistry and sung with him by Jaloo Bhesania.

This Tele-Serial of Frohar Films is Designed and Directed by Ervad Cyrus Dastoor.

For more information, you can write to froharfilms@yahoo.com, froharfoundation@hotmail.com

We have been contacted by a group of young students doing a course in Journalism and Mass Communication, who are making a documentary on Parsis as part of their Final Year project.

DelhiParsis.com is extending all the support we can to these enthusiastic youngsters. Which is why we’re also sharing a small note from them here from you. Their note is self explanatory, as to the kind of inputs they need from members of the community.

“We are students of Journalism and Mass communication, and as part of our final year curriculum, we are make a documentary on Parsis.

For that purpose we need some pictures or videos of Parsi rites, rituals and celebrations, as well as any other information or data relevant to the Parsis, which you think would help give the world a better idea about the community.

We would be very thankful to you if you could share some of these things with us. If you can help us out, or if you have any queries about us, please write to us at docuparsi@yahoo.com.

We have to submit our documentry in April 2008.

Thanking You,
Shruti Sharma”

Anyone interested in helping out these students may contact them directly, or send us your inputs and we will do the needful.

The World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) announces an opportunity to enhance your entrepreneurial talent, interact with successful businessmen, and expand your business network, to reach your full business potential.

After the grand success of the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) in June 2006, the World Zarathushti Chamber Of Commerce – India (WZCC– I), is organizing a similar training program – Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP).

This program is for you if you are a budding entrepreneur and wish to take your business to new heights by either:

• Expanding or diversifying your business
• Identifying new opportunities
• Establishing linkages with development and support institutions
• Get trained at a recognized institute
   

About the Program :

This is a residential training program scheduled during 28th April to 3rd May 2008, and will be conducted by Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI), at its campus at Ahmedabad. EDI is a recognized Training Institute promoted by leading Financial Institutions.

The training will be through lectures, case studies, business games, group exercises, interactions with successful entrepreneurs and industrial visits. The program will also help the trainees establish network and linkages with banks and financial institutions.

The Fee: Rs. 12,500/- per participant. This includes cost of training, lodging and boarding for six days, course material and industry visits. It excludes travel expenses to and from Ahmedabad.                                 

Contact at WZCC:  Prof.  Faredoon Kapadia, Mrs. Dolly Dhamodiwala, or email us at wzccprograms@gmail.com   

For more information visit the WZCC website

The Delhi Chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (India), was reconstituted today with a new President and members being added to the Managing Committee.

The composition of the new WZCC Delhi Chapter Managing Committee is as follows:

Dadi Mistry - Founder President, Delhi Chapter
Cyrus Engineer - President
Veera Mavalwala - Secretary
Adi Chhoi - Treasurer
Adil Nargolwala - Committee Member
Percy Batliwala - Committee Member
Navroze Dhondy - Committee Member
Meenakshi Bhujwala - Committee Member
Mehernosh Shapoorjee - Committee Member

The aim of the Delhi Chapter, is in line with the larger objectives of the WZCC, and its efforts are to facilitate networking, enhance Trade & Commerce and to renergize the Zarathushti entrepreneurial spirit and thus bring about economic prosperity to all Zarathushtis worldwide.

To know more about the WZCC, visit the global site by clicking here

If you thought finding long lost friends and relatives only happened in old Hindi movies, you’ve got to visit this website I found the other day! It is an interesting and useful website called The Missing Parsi.

It is a wonderful tool/site created by Ader Gandi that helps you find Parsis and Zoroastrians with whom you have lost contact, and want to get in touch with.

Using its own directory, some web tools, and good old fashioned search engines, Ader’s website can help you find that long lost relative, friend, colleague or whatever!

To use this free service, you have to write to Ader with the last known details of the person you are looking for, and he’ll take it from there.

You can also go through the current list of people being ’searched’ and see if you can help locate them.

The site also lists a whole bunch of Parsis found using this service!

Visit The Missing Parsi by clicking here.

One of our members, Arnavaz Malhotra pointed me to this fascinating feature article that appeared in the Washington Post titled “Among the Zoroastrians” with interviews by Jackie Lyden and photographs by Nancy Andrews.

The article vividly brings out the culture and lives of the few Zoroastrians still living in the desert plateau of Yazd, around 350 miles southeast of Tehran.

With both still images, a flash movie and audio commentary, this piece is worth a visit and ‘bookmark’! Check it out by clicking here.