arZan Articles

Zubin Mehta, at 89, still commands mammoth Bruckner

Zubin Mehta, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s conductor emeritus and (without exaggeration) a living L.A. icon, returned last weekend to conduct Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony with his old band.The score requires a monster orchestra with a blockbuster...

From Persia to Bangalore

Dinshaw Cawasji, President of The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman narrates the history of Parsees; how they took refuge in a small coastal town in Gujarat after agreeing to several conditions...

Doa-E-Tandorasti Prayers

Below is a video of Ervad Kobad Jamshed praying the Doa-e-Tandorasti. The prayers are being recited at the San Jose Dar-E-Mehr in California, USA. Video filmed by Rusi Sorabji.

How Iran persecutes its oldest religion

How Iran persecutes its oldest religion

Zoroastrian worshipers pray near the central Iranian city of Yazd in 2004. By Jamsheed K. Choksy , Special to CNN Editor's note: Jamsheed K. Choksy is professor of Iranian studies, senior fellow of...

Tanaz Doshi: A Model’s life

Tanaz Doshi: A Model’s life

It is not everyday that one admits to being born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Well, Tanaz Doshi is different. A successful ex-model, restauranter and someone who could pass off as the poster...

Zoroastrians Stepping Forward

We are happy to inform about a new initiative by a group of Zoroastrian youth. Behrose Taraporewalla informs: Zoroastrians are known for their humanitarian work around the world. However there has...

Parsi films that never made it to the big screen

Here are some Parsi films that never made it to the big screen...not forgetting the classic Shakespearean remakes: Rumi and Juliet Two Gentlemen of Udwada Much Bhonu about Nothing The Taming of the...

Marzban’s Dark Laughter

Marzban’s Dark Laughter

In my boyhood in Pune, the West End cinema would, at least once a year, transform itself into a live theatre to host a Parsi natak by a visiting troupe from Bombay. The wooden benches of the...

The Freddie Mercury we didn’t know

To his legions of fans, Freddie Mercury was a flamboyant, and very British, rock star. But in the background was a much more complex sense of identity, summed up by one picture, a black and white...

A Treasure Chest For An Opera House

Jamshed Bhabha's NCPA will remain on song thanks to a generous endowment. Until a few years ago, at most concerts held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, two plum seats...

Authentic Parsi Cuisine: Part 1

What constitutes authentic Parsi cuisine is a matter of great debate. One of our colleagues who hails from a blue blooded Parsi family contends that any vegetable ma gosht and any vegetable pur...

Authentic Parsi Cuisine: Part 2

This columnist’s maternal grandfather, Behramji Baria of Navsari, was a bad businessman but a great cook. He ran a catering business between the two World Wars. Article by Berjis Desai | Mumbai...

Raspberry: The Rose Drink of Persia

Raspberry: The Rose Drink of Persia

Raspberry soda? Raspberry fizz? Duke’s raspberry? Or as some of us used to call it, by dint of its identical packaging with a more famous soft drink: raspberry Mangola? “Please never call it...

Parsi population in Surat up 6% in 6 years

Extinction is one of the biggest concerns of the Parsi community in India, given their rapidly dwindling numbers. But the Parsis of Surat have bucked the trend. In the last six years, the community...

Z-Meds: Zoroastrian Doctors Without Borders

A note from Parimah Irani: I am involved with a Zoroastrian group called Z-Meds. This group is the Zoroastrian version of Doctors without Borders and its mission is to gather a directory of...

Freddie Mercury To Be Honoured At Asian Awards

The Queen star will be given a special Founders Award… Paying tribute to Freddie Mercury on what would have been his 65th Birthday this year, The Asian Awards will honour Freddie's life and...

A chronicle of Parsi theatre’s heyday

For Parsis growing up between the 1950s and 1980s, social life was defined by weekly visits to the theatre, to watch, re-watch and enjoy Parsi plays. Directors like Adi Marzban and Pheroze Antia...