The musical director of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra from 1981 until his retirement in 2019, the maestro said he...
arZan Articles
A century in the capital: How Delhi’s Parsis mark 100 years of community, faith and philanthropy
The Parsi community shares a deep-rooted relationship with Mumbai (then Bombay), where much of its history unfolded....
Aban Marker-Kabraji Conferred Tamgha-i-Imtiaz Award by Pakistan Goverment
We are thrilled to share the news that our dear friend and mentor Aban Marker-Kabraji has been conferred the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz award. Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence), is a...
Shareyaar Event App and IdeaIndia
Parsi tech entrepreneur Sheriyar Patel is the mastermind behind two new ventures in the mobile and digital realm. The first is the ShareYaar Event App ShareYaar App lists events by location and...
Parsi Gate At Marine Drive Mumbai to be restored soon
The Parsi Gate, a heritage structure located just opposite Taraporewala Aquarium at Marine Drive, will soon be restored by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The place is used by Parsi...
In the Kitchen: Nowruz celebrates spring
Last month was the Chinese (Lunar) New Year, and now March brings the celebration of the Persian/Iranian New Year, Nowruz, which starts on the vernal equinox (March 20 this year in the States)....
Parsis to promote and fund start-ups of youngsters from the community
The group intends to collect Rs5 crore and disburse the amount within next two months. To revive the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ among Parsi-Zoroastrians, the community has decided to fund business...
Dr. Farhang Mehr: A Pillar of Strength and Faith
Around the world, Zoroastrians mourn the loss of one of their brightest lights. By Lylah M. Alphonse Dr. Farhang Mehr rose through the ranks of academia and politics in Iran, shaping economic policy...
WZCC Plan to help Parsi Entrepreneurs
World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce – India (WZCCI) and WZO Trust Funds (WZOTF) are delighted to announce a joint plan to support entrepreneurs / professionals / start-ups by funding selected...
Avestan A new Fragrance Line
Our dear friend Adil Mistry points us to the launch of a new fragrance labelled Avestan Georgia Murray at Refinery 29 writes… The upcoming launch, Avestan, is named for the sacred Eastern Iranian...
Singaporean Musician Zephyr Khambatta Smashing Cultural Boundaries Overseas
Yangon, Myanmar was the stage last week for Zephyr Khambatta’s duo Stadiums to launch their debut single The Other Side, featuring Charles ENERO, Singapore’s top battle rapper. The song premiered on...
Jashne Sadeh – A Historic Celebration at Zoroastrian Association of California
Our dear friend Meher Amalsad sent us this beautiful write up of the Jashne Sadeh in Los Angeles, California Meher Amalsad writes … On February 18, 2018, under the esteemed guidance of our ...
March 8 proclaimed by United Nations in 1977 as International Women’s day
On the occasion of International Women’s Day we feature an Op-Ed by our very dear friend and mentor Dolly Dastoor March 8 proclaimed by United Nations in 1977 as International Women’s day On this...
Iranshah Atashbehram – A Documentary
A local Indian TV channel shot this short documentary on Udvada and the Iranshah Atashbehram. The documentary has some very unique aerial drone videography that shows aerial views of Udvada and the...
Veteran actor Shammi dies at 89
She acted in many movies and quite a few popular TV serials such as ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’ and ‘Zabaan Sambhal Ke’ among others. Veteran actor Shammi, who acted in over 200 films and some popular...
Teenaz Javat Awarded Absolutely Fabulous Woman Over 40 Achievement Award in Mississauga Canada
We are happy to hear that our good friend and award-winning journalist Teenaz Javat was awarded the “Absolutely Fabulous Woman Over 40 Achievement Award” by the City of Mississauga, on the occasion...
Jehanbux Bhadha Reminisces about Life as a Paratrooper in the Indian Army.
Commodore Medioma Bhadha (Retd.) writes of a letter exchange between his brother Colonel Jehanbux Bhadha (Retd.) and himself, where Jehanbux speaks about his days as a Paratrooper in the Indian Army...
Suspension of Banaji Atashbehram priest questioned amid dwindling Parsi population
Since last year, the community has been trying to stop the rapid decline in the number of Zoroastrian priests through Jiyo Parsi and Jiyo Mobed Workshop Article by Yesha Kotak | Hindustan Times...
Farhang Mehr Passes Away
As per a communique from FEZANA…. FEZANA announces with great sorrow the passing away of Farhang Mehr. Farhang Mehr passed away in southern California in the early morning on March 4, 2018. Farhang...
A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
A timeless exploration of high-stakes romance, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to love and be loved. Tanaz Bhathena debuts her first novel A Girl Like That recently. About A Girl Like...
Parsika’s classic delicacies tickle Parsi palettes
Launched on September 1 last year, Parsika is an effort by four Zoroastrians to help our community do what it does best – eat to its heart’s content. As their Facebook page so honestly...
BPP trustees move court over defamatory articles
Owner of Mumbai Samachar to appear in HC on Feb. 16 Mumbai: Trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) have approached the Bombay High Court over a series of news reports published in a supplement...
Mourning CCI to recall happy times with late president Kekoo Nicholson
Kekoo Nicholson, president of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), passed away last morning at Parel’s Global Hospital of a liver ailment Kekoo Nicholson, president of the Cricket Club of India...
The Persian Crosses: Naqsh-E-Rustam
Naqsh-e Rustam is an impressive necropolis that stands as a reminder of the once famous and powerful Achaemenid Persian Empire, which thrived between 500 BC and 330 BC when it was defeated by...
We are the warriors of the Light
Our dear friend and whiz adman Rayomand J. Patell wrote the following on a social media post today. We are the warriors of the Light. Our Fire Temples try to gently remind us of this. When Europe...
The Story of Parsi Enterprise
Catch the story of Parsi entrepreneurship and how they made their way from shipbuilders and traders to India’s leading industrialists. Also, catch the one link with the bygone days and old...
Italian photojournalist Majlend Bramo tells the story of Mumbai’s Parsis
Why did a photojournalist from Florence choose to repeatedly return to Mumbai to document a community of 40,000? Article by Kusumita Das | Mid-Day After the Navjote ceremony of Sara and Azita. This...
Parsi priests take cue from Christian pastors
The Zoroastrian initiative ‘Jiyo Parsi’ has taken a leaf out of Christianity’s book with its new ‘Jiyo Mobed’ programme that aims to make priests into community...
Akuri & A Pinch Of Hope
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,...
Calcutta HC division bench requests single judge to consider application of Parsi bodies
A division bench of the Calcutta high court requested a single judge bench to consider an application by The Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) to be included as a party or...
Bombay Parsi Punchayet scraps plan of using plot near Tower of Silence to segregate waste
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet’s (BPP) plan to set up a waste segregation and composting unit at a plot near the Tower of Silence has been scrapped after community members opposed it. Article by Yesha...
Prohibition of liquor is hypocrisy says Lord Bilimoria
It was an ambition and with humbleness Cobra beer could still sting the beer market with its entry. According to the founder and chairman of Cobra beer, Lord Karan Bilimoria, the combination of the...
Shapurji Saklatvala: Labour Against Empire
In 1922 card-carrying communist Shapurji Saklatvala was elected on a Labour Party ticket, becoming the first MP of color in the party’s history. Article by Matt Myers | Jacobimag Shapurji...
Fali Mistry, the Cinematographer Who Taught Bollywood the Importance of Cameramen
Fali Mistry was known for the imaginative imagery he created out of a dramatic interplay between light and shade. Even the hard to please Baburao Patel, in his Filmindia review of the Nargis-Dilip...
Why is India’s Parsi community going extinct?
It is a welcome decision of the Indian government to fund new fertility clinics to help save its dwindling Parsi population which is now under threat of extinction. The Parsis should be grateful...
New Publication on Dinshah P. Ghadiali & his Spectro-Chrome therapy
Contemporary science is validating light and color as a beneficial therapeutic tool. It has been generally accepted that light and color affect the mind and body. Violent juveniles placed in a pink...
Dadar Parsi Colony: A Photo Tour
My first encounter with Dadar was back in 2004 when I used to travel from Churchgate to Dadar during the evening rush hour. Most of my journey would go in planning my exit strategy from the crowded...
Like Sugar in Milk By Majlend Bramo: Pre-Order Now
We are happy to inform our readers about a new book on Parsis, “Like Sugar in Milk” is now available for pre-order. The book by Majlend Bramo shall be launched around Jamshedi Navroze 2018. WHAT:...
Behroz Sam Wadia: In Memoriam
Two weeks ago on the 1st of February my mother Behroz Sam Wadia passed away after a brief illness, in a mind numbing suddenness that is difficult to comprehend. Mummy was 70, having been born in the...
Daily Prayers of The Zoroastrian: A Prayer Book
Jiloo Billimoria writes in informing us about a book that she has reprinted. I have recently reprinted the prayer book shown in the picture above. It is a wonderful translation &...
Tehmi Bhandari: The Grand Lady of Amritsar
UPDATE: Shirin Bhandari the author of the piece below reminds us “This was originally published in 2004, my grandmother died in 2007 at the age of a 101.” “It is all like a dream now…” I...
For 31 years after his death, Homi Bhabha’s office room was unoccupied
The secular condolence ceremony for Homi Bhabha of which no photographs were found has remained firmly etched in the scientists’ memory, and the religious one was forgotten. On 24 January 1966, Homi...
Amyra dastur’s Telugu Film debut
“On one fine morning, Manjula madam called me and narrated the story. She asked me if I was interested in working for a role which is now played by Tridha. She somehow thought that I would fit in...
Jal Nariman Bharucha: Obituary
Jal Bharucha died peacefully in Middletown, Connecticut, at age 92, having lived a good and full life. He was born in Bombay, India, in 1925 to Nariman Bharucha and Aloo Bharucha (née Patel)....
Undocumented Parsi Ph.D. Student Meets Congress to Advocate for DREAM Act
Indian American Boe (Benaz) Mendewala, an undocumented Ph.D. student studying physics at the University of California-Merced, travelled to Washington, DC Jan. 19 to urge members of Congress to pass...
Clouds By Chandrahas Choudhary: Book Excerpt
Two Parsis walk into a bar. And that is (almost) the beginning of a remarkable new novel In Chandrahas Choudhury’s ‘Clouds’, the newly single Mumbai psychotherapist Farhad Billimoria meets Zahra, a...
The Vultures of the Parsi Cemetery
‘The vultures of the Parsi Cemetery’ is from a collection of stories called The Greatest Urdu Stories Ever Told. The stories are translated by Muhammad Umar Memon. The story has an interesting...
Half Parsi. Half Muslim. Full woman.
‘Name?’ I say my name, in full. ‘Date of birth?’ I say my date of birth, in full. ‘Religion?’ ‘Half Parsi, half Muslim,’ I say. In full. Article by Shaista Tayabali |Sister-hood She looks up at me....
Dr. Mickey Mehta Conferred Icon of Health and Wellness in India Award
We are glad to share that our dear friend and global health guru Dr. Mickey Mehta has been awarded the honour The Icon of Health and Wellness in India conferred by The Economic Times last Saturday...
Dorabjee & Sons: Oldest Parsi restaurant in Pune
Before Ambedkar Bose and Nehru were born; when India was under the British rule, Sorabjee Dorabjee started the Dorabjee & Sons. The restaurant was established in the year 1878. Sorabjee Dorabjee...
Homai Vyarawalla: The trailblazer who became India’s first woman photojournalist
Homai Vyarawalla, India’s first woman photojournalist, is best known for documenting the country’s transition from a British colony to a newly independent nation. The BBC chronicles her...
The Life and Death of Bombay’s Irani Chai
In the streets of South Bombay (I still refer to the city as Bombay, as the name didn’t change to Mumbai until after I left the country), hidden from plain sight by a thick veil of traffic and...