Parsi Khabar

In the 10th century, a group of Zoroastrians arrived from Iran on the shores of Gujarat, India, and sought refuge in the kingdom of Jadi Rana in Sanjan.
An oft-told tale then describes a meeting between the reigning Hindu king and the community chief, Dasturji Nairyosang Dhaval. “My kingdom is like a cup of milk, full [...]

By Nauzer K Bharucha / TNN
Perhaps for the first time in the more than 1,300-year history of the Parsis in India, the community’s oldest high priest at age 83, was anointed at Navsari in Gujarat on Tuesday. Kaikhusro Navroz Dastoor Meherjirana, a respected scholar priest, is interestingly also an advocate, author of two books on [...]

She calls it the U-Trip. Setting out from Karachi, 15-year-old Rosheen Birdie plans on visiting every major hub of Zoroastrians in the world, just so she can find one to marry. It’s not so easy to locate a ‘match’ in her homeland anymore. Colloquially known as Parsis, Zoroastrians in Pakistan seem to be on a [...]

By Deena Guzder / The Washington Post
Many of us recently finished celebrating Christmas, Eid, and Hanukkah; however, few of us have heard of the religion that deeply influenced those traditions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. As the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism introduced ideas of a single deity, a dualistic universe of good versus evil, [...]

A decade ago, karate champion Vispi Kapadia (52) lost his five-and-a-half-year-old daughter Fareena. Seven years ago, she appeared in his dreams and asked him to do "something for children" and the annual Zochild Day was born.
By Anahita Mukherji, / TNN
Every year, the Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (of which Kapadia is a trustee) celebrates the [...]

The Parsis have decided to ensure that, like other communities, they too have a representative in the Maharashtra assembly. Members of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha made a representation to governor SC Jamir asking that a Parsi be nominated as a member of the assembly.
"Our community has been in [...]

By Nauzer Bharucha, / TNN
In a city where a decent two-BHK apartment within 30 km of the business district is the exclusive domain of crorepatis, the Bombay Parsi Punchayat (BPP) will sell almost 75 flats in Panthaky Baug, Andheri (East), to low-income community members at a rock-bottom rate of Rs 2,400 a square foot. [...]

This article is written by Kersee Kabraji of Pune, India and published with his permission.
At the outset, I like to make it clear that I am neither a priest nor a scholar of our religion. With some grace, I can perhaps pass off as a ‘student’ of our religion.
I am an engineer by training and [...]

Ervad Marzban J.  Hathiram, a good old friend, editor of Frashogard.com and the Panthaki at the Jogeshwari Daremehr has written a hard hitting post on religious adultery.
Marzban writes
My apologies for not updating the blog for the last few weeks since I was tied up in the Muktad preparations and prayers in our Daremeher at [...]

See corporator’s attempt to include representatives of the community in the upcoming Assembly elections as a gimmick
A proposal from a Malabar Hill corporator to include representatives from the Parsi community in the upcoming state Assembly elections has not found favour with the community.
The letter by BJP Corporator Mangal Prabhat Lodha to Governor S C Jamir, [...]

Nargol is set to become the first village in the country to host a Parsi festival. This will be similar to government sponsored annual fests like Tarnetar fair, Kutch festival and kite festival.
The historic village was developed by first generation immigrant Parsis who landed on the Arabian Sea coast in Valsad’s Umbergaon taluka bordering [...]

Zoroastrian priest banned by the apex community trust challenges its decision; says he will not stop conducting rituals for mixed-marriage Parsis
A Zoroastrian priest – who was banned from praying at the Towers of Silence and fire temples because he has been conducting Navjotes (initiation ceremonies) for children from mixed marriages and offering after-death prayers for [...]

Worried about outside-the-community marriages, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) has come upon a proactive solution. It plans to launch its own youth club and a social networking website to promote interaction among the community’s youth. The initiative, says the Punchayet, will encourage youngsters to marry within the community.
BPP chairperson Dinshaw Mehta said the Punchayet will [...]

The rising waters of the Arabian Sea swallowed Girish Tandel’s ancestral home in Danti village of Valsad district some 15 years back. He is left only with memories of that home and a videograph of his uncle’s marriage that was solemnised at the family home in Danti.
- The fire temple of the Parsis in Udwada [...]

“For two minutes, imagine yourself in my place as a young boy seeing his mother being hammered savagely and vomiting blood. Her screams
still ring in my ears. Even animals are better than this man. What would you do with a father who destroyed your mother and your life and left you nothing but misery and [...]