The central province of Yazd is home to a large population of Iranian Zoroastrians. This past Tuesday, they celebrated the annual mid-winter feast “Jashn-e Sadeh” by preparing a large bonfire (also known as Adur-Jashan, or Feast of fire).

The annual festivity honors fire, the defeat of darkness/cold and signifies the coming of Spring.

Click Here for more pics

Years ago

There was a blood bath

Where we Zoroastrians were

Too victims of Ethnic Cleansing
Slaughtered & butchered  like goats.

Fast forward a few

Hundred years

Landed on the

Shores of Sanjan

Pleading with

Requesting Hindu king

For assylum

Who apparently

Was a true human

Did not believe in

Ethnic Cleansing!

He saved us from

A catastrophe

For Zoroastrians from

Being totally annihilated

But, alas we haven’t

Learn’t from past mistakes

Zoroastrian is a religion

Preaches  tolerance

Respect Dignity & Equality

Unfortunately there is still

Practice of systematic

Racism Discrimination

And Bigotry

In other words

Ethnic Cleansing!

Look around &

One will see

World wide

People are marching

In protest to demand

Freedom & Equality

So what are we

Doing about it?

Encouraging “Ethnic Cleansing”

It takes “Two to Tango”

As I have said

“No one Owns the Religion”

So wake up & smell the roses

Before it’s too late

Please don’t encourage

“Ethnic Cleansing

If one is a True Zoroastrian

Choicest Happiness

Farida Bamji

Just Informing everyone that the 11th WZC speakers & programme has been uploaded on website. There will be new & innovative subjects & speakers.
Do check it out!

Early bird closes on 21 February 2018. Price for the normal registration will be $575 from 22 February 2018 (early bird is $499).

Please do inform your family and friends also. Thanks and hope to see you there!!

https://www.11wzcperth.com.au/

The Alliance Française de Pune 

and 

Poona Music Society, 

presents 

a concert called 

“Gathas : Songs my father taught me.” 

by 

Ariana Vafadari 

under the label of 

Bonjour India 2017-18. 

http://pune.afindia.org/events/bonjour-india-gathas-with-ariana-vafadari/ 

Thursday, 22nd February | 7 PM
Mazda Hall, Dastur Primary School, Camp
FREE ENTRANCE

The Gathas are the prayers of Zoroastrianism, the monotheistic religion of Ancient Persia. These poems from philosopher and prophet Zarathustra date from about 3700 years. They are surprisingly modern, expressing the life, doubts and choices of a man. As there are no records of the way they were sung originnally, Franco-Iranian Ariana Vafadari composed every song according to radifs or oriental scales. It results in music that constantly vibrates between its Oriental mystic foundations and their matching Western opera. Ariana Vafadari and her musicians have a common trait, they unremittingly stretch musical boundaries. In perfect continuity with their cultural and musical backgrounds, they were trained by traditional Iranian, Ottoman and Moroccan music, jazz, Western classical music or opera, in their improvisations and the practice of their instruments, they travel freely from one world to the next.

The third edition of Bonjour India 2017-18 is a four-month-long mega voyage across India that will celebrate Indo-French partnership as well as shape the next decade of human exchange between the two countries.

This concert is organised in association with Poona Music Society.

Part 1 : The Rise of the Parsis

The Parsis are one of Indias most well-known business communities. Catch the story of their journey from a predominantly agrarian beginning to the pioneers of Indian industry.

Part 2 :

Naushad Forbes, Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshal, shares his thoughts on his family legacy , the Parsi way of doing business and the way ahead .

And Much More in Fashion, Lifestyle, Education……

An initiative to nourish the underprivileged children, Xtremely Young Zoroastrians’ (XYZ) Each One, Feed One’ program pledges to raise funds and provide meals to the underprivileged.  Conceptualized by Tehmurasp’s Titans (TT) volunteer, Yasmin Bhadha along with the team of XYZ Foundation the program will feed one mid-day meal to around five hundred children for a period of one year.

Speaking to Parsi Times Yasmin Bhadha said,  “As a mother, I understand the importance of good nourishment for growing children and that set me thinking about the numerous less fortunate children. How do they get access to good nutrition which their parents cannot provide? I came in contact with the Annamrita Program of ISKCON Food Relief Foundation, which provides nutritious and wholesome mid-day meals to 1.2 million children across 7 States of  India. Just the guarantee of one meal in a day, brings so many children to school daily, thus boosting classroom attendance and liberating them from the vicious circle of malnutrition and illiteracy.”

TT President, Avan Bhadha said, “When I talked to my mother, it amazed me to hear that it only takes Rs.450/- to feed one child, a nutritious meal for a full year, while these children attend school because of the promise of one meal. I realized how privileged we are and decided to talk to my friends on how we could contribute for this amazing cause.” Adding value to this, President Elect, Benafsha Vaid, said, “We are 500 XYZ members in Mumbai. So we decided each one of us can raise funds to support at least one nutritious meal for an underprivileged child, for a period of one year.”

“Social responsibility is one of the fundamental activities of XYZ. We decided that for every  donation that comes through for the Annamrita program from our XYZ  volunteers/members/or  their families,  XYZ Foundation will make a matching donation and a consolidated amount will be handed over to ISKCON   Food Relief Foundation. Every donation is eligible for 80G certificate as well,” says XYZ Founder, Hoshaang Gotla.

With a target to feed five hundred children for the next one year, XYZ needs to raise Rs. 2,25,000/-.  Since the launch of the campaign on 30th January, 2018, the team has already raised 50% of the target amount.

XYZ Appeals to the readers to contribute to this noble cause via the following:

Make an online donation through the link https://bitgiving.com/eachonefeedone

Or issue a cheque in the name of ISKCON Food Relief the Annamrita program from our Foundation

Or issue a cheque in the name of XYZ Foundation and hand it over to your group volunteer. The Tr team will manage the collections of the same.

Or the cheques can be mailed to XYZ Foundation, Thakker Building, 1st floor, Champsi Bhimji Road, Mazgaon,  Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Do send in your contributions launch of the campaign on latest by 30th March, 2018 and make a big difference in the lives of the children of our country.

I am looking for good candidates for following jobs

Accountant – one who has excellent grasp of accounting and finance. Knows accounting softwares such as Tally and Quickbooks, is extremely honest and capable, can manage a team and be admin head. Should be able to do finalisation of accounts, well versed with VAT, GST and IT laws. In mumbai at our Mahim office.

Accounts assistant – with excellent knowledge of accounting and accounting softwares like Tally and Quickbooks. Should be extremely honest. Based in Mahim, Mumbai.

Sales – need sales officers to national level managers at all levels and all over India.

Marketing – one who is business savvy and will bring successful marketing campaigns. Based in Mahim, Mumbai but will have to travel.

Art work and Web Designer – one who can make compelling websites and newsletters. Must have excellent knowledge of web design and art work design softwares including e commerce website. Should have good visualisation skills. Based in Mahim, Mumbai.

Warehouse Manager – one who knows inventory management and logistics. Based in Mahim, Mumbai.

Sincerely
Ruumi
LifeCare Devices Private Limited
9820044440

Dear friends,

Here is the Humbandagi prayers for our Zarathushti friends who follow the Fasli calendar.

The prayer may be recited during the 10 Fasli Muktad days which start from March 11th Asman Roj to the last Gatha day which is on Tuesday March 20th.  The 5  Fasli Gatha days are from March 16th to March 20th.

I have also attached a pdf file for your convenience.

May Ahura Mazda bless us all.

Sincerely,

Rohinton K. Tarapore,

Chair, Zarathushti Association of New Orleans.

=======================================================

HUM BANDAGI – Prayer in memory of the departed souls

Introduction:

When the universe was first started by Ahu, His wish which is Ahunavar (Yatha Ahu Vairyo) was sent. Then came Fravashi. This Fravashi can be imagined as the mother of entire creation. A small portion with varied level of Ashoi does exist in everything in Universe from the Human being to the smallest of small particle. This provides a Spiritual Guiding force. The following prayer is to remember the Fravashi during the days of Farvadegan, when all Fravashis come to this Gaiti (Earth).

Translation:

For all my mistakes, I repent and promise to retreat from them. I praise and worship the Fravashi that are Asho (Righteous), good, brave, and those that help in our advancement.

1. I get attuned, remember, pray and sing in praise of the excellent, heroic and bounteous Fravashis of all Righteous beings who bring happiness and prosperity to us. We praise the Fravashis of the High Priests belonging to our homes, cities, states and countries.

1. Among all these Fravashis of the ancient epoch we worship here, the first and foremost is that of Dadar Ahura Mazda, which is the most exalted, the most excellent, and the best, the firmest and the wisest, the most gracious and the highest in righteousness.

1. We remember the bounteous Holy Fravashis of the Amesha Spentas, who are the rulers, energetic eyed, the exalted and the mighty, who render help and assistance, act in accord with the Law of Ahura Mazda and who are the eternal Holy-ones.

1. Here do we extol the life-force, the conscience, the intellect, the souls and the Fravashis of the righteous men and the righteous women of the ancient Mazdayasni faith before Zarathustra, and of the righteous men and the righteous women who were the first listeners to the religious     scriptures of Zarathushtra and who embraced his religion called Mazdayasni Zarathustrish. All these people strove hard for righteousness. We adore the soul of the bounteous Mother-Earth.

1. Amongst those who strove hard for righteousness, we respectfully remember the Fravarshi of the righteous Gaya Maretan or Gayomard; we revere here both the Holiness and the Fravashi of Holy Spitama Zarathushtra; we venerate the Fravashi of the Kyanian King Gustasp, the Righteous; we venerate the Fravashi of the righteous Isat-vaastrahe, the eldest son of Zarathushtra.

1. Here do we praise the Life-force, the conscience, the intellect, the souls and the Fravashis of the righteous men and the righteous women among the Nabanazdishtans (i.e. people born in Zarathusti religion, descendents of those who embraced Zarathusti religion) who strove hard for righteousness. Along with all these holy Fravarshis, do we revere those of the righteous departed souls, those of the righteous who are living, those of the heroes to be born and the heralds-of-renovation, the Saoshyants yet to come – to fight the evil and re-establish the Law of Asha (righteousness) in the world.

1. Here do we praise the souls of the departed ones who fought for Ashoi and whose Fravashis are holy. Of all the departed souls of Nabanzdishtans, the Ervads, the disciples and men and women who have gone beyond from this fold, we here invoke the Fravarshis of these righteous men and of these righteous women.

1. Of all the Ervards (or Gurus), we revere the Fravashis of the righteous Ervards. Of all the disciples, we revere the Fravashis of the holy disciples. Of all men, we revere the Fravarshis of the righteous men. Of all women, we revere the Fravashis of the righteous women.

1. We praise the Fravashis of all holy innocent children of tender age; we praise the Fravashis of the holy inhabitants of this country; we praise the Fravashis of the holy inhabitants of other countries.

1. Of men, we praise the Fravashis of the righteous men; of women, we praise the Fravashis of the righteous women. All the excellent, heroic and bounteous Fravashis of the Righteous do we revere, those right from Gaya Maretan, the first man upto Saoshyant, our last victorios savior to come.

1. We remember and praise the Fravashis of all the righteous souls; We remember and praise the excellent heroic and bounteous Fravashis of the Holy-ones. All of them bring happiness and prosperity to us. We also remember and praise all the Yazads.

================================================================================================

HUM BANDAGI

Kshnaothra Ahura Mazdaao. Ashem Vohu(1).

**Az hama gunah patet pashemanum,

Ashaaonaanm vanghuhish suraao

spentaao fravashayo yazamaide. Ashaone

Ashem Vohu(1).** – Recite 3 times.

Ahmai Raeshcha; Hazangrem; Jasa me avanghahe; Kerfeh mozd.

1 Ashaaonaanm vanghuhish suraao

spentaao fravashayo staomi, zbayemi,

ufyemi; yazamaide nmaanyaao vîsyaao

zañtumaao dâkhyumaao zarathushtrôtemaao.

2 Vîspanaanmcha aaonghaanm paoiryanaanm

fravashinaanm idha yazamaide, fravashîm

avaam yaam Ahurahe Mazdaao, mazishtaanmcha

vahishtaanmcha sraêshtaanmcha, khraozdishtaanmcha

khrathvishtaanmcha hukereptemaanmcha,

ashaat apanôtemaanmcha.

3 Ashaaonaanm vanguhîsh suraao

spentaao fravashayo yazamaide; yaao

ameshanaanm speñtanaanm, khshaêtanaanm,

verezi-dôithranaanm, berezataanm, aiwyaamanaanm,

takhmanaanm, aahûiryanaanm, yôi aithyejanghô ashavanô.

4 Paoiryanaanm tkêshanaanm,

paoiryanaanm saasnô-gûshaanm idha

ashaonaanm, ashaoninaanmcha ahûmcha,

daênaanmcha, baodhascha, urvaaanemcha,

fravashîmcha yazamaide, Yôi ashaai

vaonare, gêush hudhaaonghô urvaanem yazamaide.

5 Yôi ashâi vaonare, gayehe marethnô

ashaonô fravashîm yazamaide.

Zarathushtrahe Spitaamahe idha ashaonô ashîmcha

fravashîmcha yazamaide. Kavôish Vîshtaaspahe

ashaonô fravashîm yazamaide. Isat-vaastrahe

Zarathushtrôish ashaonô fravashîm yazamaide.

6 Nabaanazdishtanaanm idha ashaonaanãm

ashaoninaanmcha ahûmcha daênaanmcha baodhascha

urvaanemcha fravashîmcha yazamaide, yôi ashaai

vaonare, mat vîspaabyô ashaonibyô fravashibyô,

yaao irîrithushaanm ashaonaanm, yaaoscha jvañtaanm

ashaonaanm, yaaoscha naraanm azaatanaanm,

frashô-charethraanm saoshyañtaanm.

7 Idha iristanaanm urvaanô yazamaide.

Yaao ashaaonaanm fravashayô, vîspanaanm ahmya

nmaane nabaanazdishtanaanm para-iristanaanm,

aêthrapaitinaanm aêthryanaanm, naraanm naairinaanm

idha ashaonaanm ashaoninaanm fravashayô yazamaide.

8 Vîspanaanm aêthrapaitinaanm ashaonaanm fravashayô

yazamaide. Vîspanaanm aêthryanaanm ashaonaanm fravashayô

yazamaide. Vîspanaanm naraanm ashaonaanm fravashayô

yazamaide. Vîspanaanm naairinaanm ashaoninaanm

fravashayô yazamaide.

9 Vîspanaanm aperenaayûkanaanm dahmôkeretanaanm

ashaonaanm fravashayô yazamaide, aadakhyunaanmcha

ashaonaanm fravashayô yazamaide, uzdakhyunaanmcha

ashaonaanm fravashayô yazamaide.

10 Naraanmcha ashaonaanm fravashayô yazamaide,

naairinaanmcha ashaoninaanm fravashayô yazamaide.

Vîspaao ashaaunaanm vanguhîsh sûraao speñtaao

fravashayô yazamaide, yaao hacha gayaat marethnat

aa-saoshyañtaat verethraghnat.

11 Vispaao Fravashyo ashaaonaanm yazamaide,

ashaaonaanm vanghuish suraao spentaao fravashayo

yazamaide. Vispe ashavano yazata yazamaide.

Ashem Vohu(1).

https://sites.google.com/site/zarathushtiprayers/Muktad%20Humbandagi.pdf

Muktad Humbandagi

Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata was today felicitated by Maharashtra government with a special award for his contribution to the development of the state.

Tata, who served as the chairman of the salt-to- software conglomerate for over three decades across two stints, was presented the Mahaudyog Sanman, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on his twitter handle late this evening.

Fadnavis presented the award to Tata during a special awards ceremony to recognise his contributions to industrial development at the second day of the ongoing Magnetic Maharashtra investor summit.

He was accompanied by industries minister Subhash Desai, tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal and junior home minister Pravin Pote Patil.

Other categories from where entrepreneurs were felicitated included information technology, women, exporters and small businesses.

Many people regard ‘Ritual’ and ‘Reason’ as being anti-thetical. In reality, both are complementary factors in the process of spiritual growth. Prayers and rituals are born of man’s adoration for that unseen power underlying the mystery of life. Each religion prescribes its own set of practices as a means of adoration or worship or to encourage humility and surrender, resulting in spiritual purification so necessary for inner growth. History affirms that prayers and rituals never completely die out, so long as they can offer the devout a spiritual link with Divinity or at another level, a sense of security.

Prayer and Ritual is what distinguishes religion from mere philosophy. In a manner of speaking, prayers and rituals help provide the spiritual experience of the celebration of religion. The purpose of prayers and rituals is to generate a conscious awareness which, in turn, provides the devout an insight into and an understanding of the nature of Divinity. Prayers and rituals also provide a medium through which one is able to relate and bridge himself to the unseen spiritual world.

Faith, of course, is very essential. A Master once observed, ‘In spiritual life, faith comes first, then knowledge and then experience.’ Faith begins where reason falters: faith falters where there is attention without intention. Faith is necessary for gaining wisdom. Faith should not be confused with blind belief. It is rather the aspiration of the soul to gain wisdom. If faith is constant, it takes the devotee to the realization of wisdom. Indeed, the way to wisdom is through faith. Prayers and rituals, when performed with understanding, feeling and concentration, become a powerful tool in the process of religious awareness. Take, for example, the most basic and simple ritual of performing the Kusti. Each time a devotee performs this ritual, he/she makes an unswerving commitment to reject and fight evil and promote the Will of Dadaar Ahura Mazda.

Avesta is not a ‘Dead Language’ as some Parsis choose to call it. It is a ‘Divine Language’. If Hindus consider Sanskrit as the language of the Devatas (Divinity), devout Zoroastrians consider Avesta as the language of the Yazatas. Our sacred manthravani is loaded with Divine Energy which can deeply influence the devotee and his or her surroundings when chanted with faith and devotion. In fact our Avestan manthravani is Ahura Mazda’s Energy which devotees can vocalize in order to attune the spirit within with the Divine Essence of Universal Spirituality.

Just as food is essential for physical sustenance, prayer is vital for spiritual sustenance. Pray the Atash Niyaesh before a consecrated Fire and see how it energizes you – both physically and spiritually. Pray the Ardibehesht Yasht regularly and see how it heals some of your chronic ailments. Recite the Hormazd Yasht as often as possible and get a sense of Ahura Mazda’s all-round protection. Invoke Sarosh Yazata everyday and observe the enhancement in your spiritual consciousness. Invoke Behram Yazata whenever in trouble or Ava Yazata for knowledge and wisdom. The list is long……..!

And, every day, recite the two most powerful prayers of just 21 and 12 words respectively, the Yatha and Ashem.  Pray one Ashem the moment you wake up in the morning and pray one just before you fall asleep. Pray one Ashem just before and after a meal or whenever a bad thought passes your mind. Make it a habit to pray one Yatha whenever you leave your home and before starting any new work. On a personal note, everyday, as a matter of habit, I pray one Yatha before starting my computer or before writing an important letter or article. It gives me not just a sense of being blessed but it also gives me a sense of higher purpose and the inclusion of a spiritual essence in whatever I plan to do.

Regular worship is also believed to ‘keep the doctor away’. In a study conducted by the Purdue University, of 1,500 people, researchers found that 36% of those who said they regularly worship, claimed excellent health, versus only 29% of those who said that they do not regularly worship; and a higher percentage of non-worshippers claimed poor health. Researchers believe that religious people are probably able to adjust their lives better to changing circumstances and stressful situations. Doubtlessly, it is regular prayer and ritual observances which sustain the Faith. Even, the Gatha of Asho Zarathushtra have been kept alive, not through mere philosophical interpretations, but through constant ritual usage.

With due apologies to Martin Luther King Jr., I would like to conclude with an adaptation of his belief – ‘To be a Zoroastrian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.’ But, yes, no point praying and then not living up to what one prays. Living an ethical, value-based life must go hand in hand with prayers. It is only when we integrate the positive affirmations of our prayers with righteous actions that we truly live the religion or make the Zoroastrian religion a way of life.

…. Noshir Dadrawalla

http://parsi-times.com/2018/02/zoroastrian-prayers-rituals/

This wonderful book has been shared by Er. Farhad Sidhwa, in memory of his father, Er. Godrej Dinshawji Sidhwa. Go through the contents and read up the erudite writings of a great Scholar on the ceremonies and rituals of Zoroastrianism.

Click Here to download the entire book in pdf format

It is a huge download, please be patient

The annual Global Real Estate Awards recognize and reward excellence across the real estate in the region across multiple organizational as well as individual award categories. This particular award recognizes leaders who have most effectively shaped their business success, delivered outstanding growth and contributed to the well-being of the society. The Business Leader of the Year award is a fitting endorsement of all that the platform has achieved through the work of each and every member of the Piramal Finance & Piramal Housing Finance team.

Mr. Khushru Jijina expressing gratitude receiving the award said :

“I am truly honoured to receive the ‘Business Leader of the Year 2017’ award from Global Real Estate Congress and would like to thank the jury for recognising our journey. In a market that is otherwise plagued with strong cycles and transactional relationships, we have successfully built a model of long term partnership with the ability to cater to developers across the entire capital stack right from project equity and debt to housing finance for the end user.  As recently as 2014, we started with assets under management (AUM) of Rs. 1,500 crores and today we have crossed Rs. 65,000 crores. I would sincerely like to thank Mr Piramal for giving me this opportunity to lead a young and dynamic team and I dedicate this award to each and every member of Piramal Finance and Piramal Housing Finance.”

Akuri & A Pinch Of Hope: A Feel Good Short Film That’ll Leave You With A Lingering Smile

Two men stumble upon each other at an Irani Cafe and what happens next will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Dr Peshotan Katrak – Rehab Physician and head priest receives Australia Day honours

Dr Katrak was honoured for his significant service to rehabilitation medicine, to medical education and to the Zoroastrian community in Sydney as their high priest.

Born in Mumbai in 1944, he received his MD from Mumbai University, MRCP in London and then completed training in the specialty of Rehabilitation Medicine (FAAPMR) from California, USA. He migrated to Australia in 1975 with post-graduate qualifications from three continents.

It was the fourth continent – Australia – which brought him greatest satisfaction in personal and professional circles. Married to Shernaz he is the father of two sons, Sohrab and Arash. Peshotan was among the pioneers of Rehabilitation Medicine in Australia. “At that time there were only a handful of fully qualified specialists as there was no program for young doctors in this field in Australia”, he said.

Complete article can be read at http://www.indiandownunder.com.au/2018/02/dr-peshotan-katrak-rehab-physician-and-head-priest-receives-australia-day-honours/

For the interest of our readers we add a tribute by our ex-Karachiite Hohang Sohrabji Bhandara who now lives in Australia: “I had an industrial accident in 1997 and was hospitalised for over three months, and was very depressed. One morning I saw this gentleman sitting next to my bed and he introduced himself and made me feel very easy. He assisted me throughout the time I was in hospital, and sent me to one best rehab. His presence and words were enough. Dr Peshotan, you did not know me and wonder how you came to know about me, but you came as an Angel in disguise. I will never forget you as long as I live. God bless you and your family.”

Courtesy : What’s On – Karachi