Zoroastrian News – اخبار زرتشتیان

On Sunday November 16, 2008, the Fifth Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Choir Festival was held in the LSD Chapel in Irvine, California.

The theme of this year’s event was “Hamony and the Spirit of Cooperation”. This year’s festival was rich in music and choral presentations from various religious and cultural organizations. Overall, the event was joyous and magnificently harmonious.

There were short presentation by the representatives of various religious traditions including Sikh, Baha’i, Buddist, Hindu, Jain, Judaism and Islam. Ardeshir Anoshiravani, MD represented the Zarathushti religion with the following presentation:

I am convinced that if Zarathushtra were amongst us, he would have thoroughly enjoyed all these musical presentations. Zarathushtra invented the word “Grutha-mana”, which means “the Abode of Songs”. Zarathushtra defined this word as the reward for righteous people, as the worldly heaven for promoters of progress and peace. One can say that we are all spending an evening in “Grutha-mana” the Abode of Songs.

In humble adoration, with hands outstretched, I pray to Thee, O Ahura Mazda!

Through Thy benevolent spirit , Grant me in this hour of joy, All righteousness of action, all wisdom of the good mind, That I may thereby bring joy to the Soul of Creation. (Gathas, The Devine Songs of Zarathushtra 28.1)

Zarathushtra not only wants harmony between human beings, but he promotes a unique philosophy of life; that we have to be in harmony with the creator, “Ahura Mazda” to bring joy to “the Soul of Creation”. Zarathushtra instructs us that we show our dedication to our creator by living a “Good Life”, By enhancing our knowledge and wisdom, by making the right choices, by following the path of Asha, by practicing Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds. He first and foremost, requests us to be in harmony with Ahura Mazda’s divine order and live harmoniously with our universal environment. Zarathushtra does not try to inculcate us with the message of God, but he wants to teach us the language of God so that we all can get the God’s message for ourselves.

Photos are from Jerry Keane.