A short audio visual on the evolution of Zoroastrianism from 1200BC to present

There are very few from the Zoroastrian community like Arbab Kaykhosrow Shahrokh who served our community so much. Therefore his commemoration should be worthy of him.”
Sirous Nikbakhsh, Director of Kerman Zoroastrian Anjuman, referred to the statue of Arbab Kaykhosrow Shahrokh, which has been completed, and added: “We should organize a ceremony worthy of Arbab Kaykhosrow and this is only possible with the help of Tehran Zoroastrian Anjuman.”
Rostam Khosraviani said: “We also intend to have a ceremony in his honor and hope to have the help of Kerman Anjuman” As per ratification of Tehran Zoroastrian Anjuman, cost of making the statue and holding the commemoration will be borne by Tehran Zoroastrian Anjuman and follow-up and other executive matters will be done by Kerman Zoroastrian Anjuman. The statue will be placed in Kerman Industrial Museum and will be unveiled in a ceremony.

the across-country Zoroastrian film festival was not held.
This festival was named “A good look” and was supposed to be held in October this year, by showing films with cultural and social concepts in Iran.
We asked Farzad Felfeli, the planner and organizer of this festival, about the reason for its not being held and he replied: “Problems came up that we prefer not to mention.”
He said that 4 films were going to participate in the festival, which was quite good, considering that this would be the first such a festival.
He who is active in this field, was one of the participants. He and the other three are members of the National Cinema Association.
Referring to what had happened, he said: “Though this festival was not held, but the participants were awarded prizes, as tokens of remembrance.

The rough football ground of Dadar Parsi Gymkhana is cultivating rare laurels. Two middle-aged neighbours have won India a gold and a

silver medal at the prestigious World Masters Games held in Sydney mid-October. Fareez Vasania, a 45-year-old industrial photographer, and 49-year-old lawyer Rohinton Mehta, who defends tobacco major ITC in court, are untouchable in their events although the spotlight is yet to turn on them in a nation obsessed with cricket.

The WMG championship held every four years invites individual athletes above the age of 35 to participate. This year the Games were held from October 10-18 at the very Mondo track which was used for the Sydney Olympics 2000. Of 28,000 competitors representing 85 countries, three were Parsis from India and two of them won. Backed by nothing but self-will, with no government or corporate support to lead the way, they brought victory to India.

Vasania, whose mother Zarine was among the first female car racers in the country and father a boxer, won the silver at the triple jump event for men over 45 by clocking a distance of 11.77 m. Showing a photograph of himself at the victory stand, he laughs and says he “spoiled the party” for the Australians who came in first and third by taking the middle position.

The self-trained athlete builds his stamina by coaching the boys of Parsi gym at football. In the run-up to a major sporting event, though, Vasania goes over to the Army Sports Institute in Pune to fine-tune his skill and timing.

Meanwhile, dwelling on his exclusivity as a 400 m hurdle champion, Rohinton Mehta proudly shows the gold medal he won in the 45-plus category for a timing of 64.44 seconds. Mehra has compiled a portfolio of documents which contain every little fact and statistic on the Games as well as his own track record, along with pictorial evidence burned on a CD. “The World Masters championship is the equivalent of the Senior Olympics so none but the best qualify. We are untouchable in our events,” he declares, citing instances of having beaten sprightly 20-year-olds in city meets that are open to all age groups.

For both of them, the victory is significant given that they beat countries like Australia, Poland and the US whose athletes are naturally well-built, where training facilities are available and support plentiful. “I, on the other hand, paid for everything. In fact, each of us spent over Rs one lakh from our own reserves on travel, accommodation and the entry fee to the championship,” says Vasania.

Unsung and unhonoured in a country with eyes glazed by cricket, the duo is hardly signing autographs, granting marathon interviews or shooting commercials.

Original article here.

In a religion as ancient as ours, the center of our spiritual physical being lies with these very priests. The dasturs, as they are known, are the custodians and implementers of all matters pertaining to religion, customs, ceremonies and the overall conscience of the religion. Zarathusti priests have over the centuries been the guiding force in the interpretation of our ancient texts, performing ceremonies of happiness and sadness, and being the silent custodians and arbitrators of our religious ethos.
more…

http://nextgennow.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/religious-education-and-the-future-of-young-mobeds-in-north-america-and-beyond/

None of the Vaj Yasht prayers is different from the others. It is always the Mobeds sound of prayers and the unity and participation of the people, the fire of the Fire Temple and the held-up hands of the people, joining in the prayers. What is the power that draws people of all ages, at sunrise, to the fire temple, to unite in the prayers? What is the power that draws so many people, who have repeatedly come to Gahanbar prayers at sunrise? On 20 Mehr (12 October), the Vaj Yasht Gahanbar ceremony was held in Tehran Fire Temple and this time I decided to arrive earlier than the others. I arrived at the Fire Temple at 6 am, and saw the Fire Temple and the outside space packed with people, who had come to participate in this many thousands of years old ceremony. The sound of Avesta had filled this holy place.
10 Mobeds were reciting prayers and there was complete silence. The flames of the fire were dancing in the peaceful atmosphere.
Mobed Mehraban Firoozgari and Ramin Shahzadi were reciting the Yasna in the fire room. They had started the Yasna prayers from midnight. Mobed Firoozgari was praying and grinding ‘huma’. There were small and big copper bowls next to him, filled with water and he would add the ‘huma’ to the water.
Another mobed was putting wood on the fire.
Despite the crowd, silence and peaceful praying had filled the air. Before the Avesta ended and before the Barasad prayers started the fire censer with incense burning on the fire, was turned around among the participants, and with this sentence said by the mobed: “Hamazoor beem” (let us join hands) they moved their palm over the fire, and answered “Hamazoor hama ashu beem” (let us join hands in doing good and being truthful). Everyone stood up, held up their hands towards the sky and prayed the ‘barasad’ together, and offered it to that day, Ashtad Izad day of Mehr month, Havan time of the day.
Vaj Yasht prayers ended and the people started greeting each other “health and support from the power of Gahanbar”.
With the Vaj Yasht prayers on the first day, Zoroastrians started their 5 days ceremonies of Aya-threm gah.
The Aya-threm gah chahreh of Gahanbar starts on 20 Mehr, for 5 days. The mobeds go to meet this Gahanbar by praying Vaj yasht on the first day. From 20 Mehr, in all cities and villages where Zoroastrians live, in the fire temples and in houses, Gahanbar khani is going on.
Aya-threm gah is the third chahreh of Gahanbar. Altogether there are 6 chahreh of Gahanbar, in each of which, based on the belief of Zoroastrians, Ahura Mazda has created one of his creations. In Aya-threm it is believed that plants were created.
Gahanbar is a ceremony in which Zoroastrians do charity, and according to the customs inherited from olden times, Zoroastrians donate whatever eatables earned in that particular season. In this charity function the poor and the rich participate together and equally.
I do not know what power draws you and me to the Gahanbar ceremony, each time.

Vaj Yasht prayers – the mobed, while praying, is putting wood and incense on the fire.

Vaj Yasht prayers – Mobed Firoozgari and Ramin Shahzadi, praying Yasna and grinding the ‘huma’.

Vaj Yasht prayers – mobeds united in the Avesta prayers, with hands held up.

Vaj Yasht prayers – Zoroastrians, from all over Tehran attended the ceremony.

Mobed Ardeshir Khorshidian, Directeor of Tehran Mobed Association, said: “I thank our community for such an active participation and coordination. Word by word of the thought provoking prayers, which are recited, has energy in itself and it is this energy that draws us each time to these ceremonies. There is energy hidden in the meaning of the words and we will better benefit from this energy when we know the meaning of these prayers. We should wake up and join hands in spreading the ideals and goals of Zarathushtra, which is righteousness and refreshing the world with good thoughts, words and deeds.

Another Nowzut ceremony is forthcoming. In this ceremony, to be held on 24 Mehr (16 October), Ramin Shahzadi will join the mobed order, and will unite with other mobeds in guarding the Zoroastrian religion and culture.
In order to achieve this rank an extensive religious education and tests given by the head mobeds regarding religion and customs should be passed. Ramin Shahzadi has passed these stages and is now looking forward to his Nowzut ceremony.
About this ceremony and his eagerness he has penned the following lines:
“I wish to pave the path that my forbearers have led.
I want to carry the burning torch that other mobeds and our ancestors have guarded from enemies and time, with honor and unbelievable self-sacrifices, and have handed it to us today. With this torch in my hand I want to spread the religion of righteousness.
It is some years that I have started my education and I have now succeeded to pass the examination of Tehran Mobed Association, and will soon wear the white mobed gown.
I will be most happy, if in this celebration my respective fellow-Zoroastrians will participate on 24 Mehr (equal to Anarom Izad day of Mehr month, 3747 Zoroastrian religious calendar).
I wish you success and happiness
Ramin Shahzadi”

You are hereby invited with family and friends to
The Inauguration function of

THE WORLD ZARATHUSHTI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – BC Chapter

On October 12, 2009
At 4 pm sharp

At the Arbab Rostam Guiv Dar E Mehr
6900 Halifax Street, Burnaby.

Keynote Speaker

Firdosh Mehta
Director WZCC

Zarathushti Entrepreneurs
Of the Food and hospitality industry
Have gracefully agreed to provide their Specialties
To be served at the function

****
It will be appreciated if you
RSVP the number of people attending latest 7 Oct 2009 by email to
wzccbc@yahoo.com

Website

http://www.wzccbc.com

Kermani Zoroastrians will celebrate Mehregan on Friday afternoon. This year’s Mehregan celebration in Kerman will start at 4 pm, in Bodaghabad Garden.
Mehregan is the day when the name of the day and month (Mehr) fall on one day. Besides this occasion, other occasions can also be considered for celebrating this day, the most famous one being the revolution of Kaveh, the iron smith, his victory over Zahak and coronation of Fereidoon.
Now-a-days, Mehregan celebration, due to changes which occurred in the calendar in 1304 (1925), falls on 10th Mehr (20 October).

It was the second year of the First World War and bread had become very scarce in the bakeries of Yazd; even if you found some it was burnt on one side and raw on the other. But the people were content.
In the house of Khosrow Shahjahan (an influential landowner in Yazd and one of the founders of Bank Melli Iran) ‘bread Gahanbar’ was being held (gahanbar in which bread is distributed among participants). 30 people would work in the kitchen for 24 hours before the Gahanbar day, to bake traditional bread for the Gahanbar ceremony. Two policemen were stationed in the house before Gahanbar started, to prevent thousands of men and women from creating commotion and disorder while getting bread. On that day, bread was baked with 480 kg flour, and men, women and children from all classes and religions had queued up. Two persons were responsible for distributing the bread. Two ‘nan’ were given to each person, whether small or big. In presence of the police no one disturbed the queue and the bread sufficed for everybody and all went back home happily. Gahanbar at such a large scale, in those days of scarcity and war, when bread could not be found, was not seen nor heard of by anyone.