Dear readers, we’re approaching Navroze. And mitthu monu is a must, diabetes and sugar free diets can wait, jara...
Mehernaaz Shovir Irani Articles
Arzan Sam Wadia In Conversation with With Hrishi K Radio One 94.3 FM
FEZANA President & Parsi Khabar founder Arzan Sam Wadia on India’s largest English radio station Radio One 94.3 FM...
Cyrus It Is: Cyrus has the crowds rolling with laughter
Cyrus Broacha, by himself, is a laugh riot. Put him on stage with his best buddy, the hilarious Kunal Vijaykar, and you get twice the fun. Or in this case, one-and-a-half times the fun! Raell...
Kobad Ghandy: Conversation with a Naxalite
Kobad Ghandy’s recent arrest has made waves. After all, it’s not every day that one encounters a Naxal leader who hails from an affluent Parsi family, has studied in some of India’s best educational...
Shiamak Davar: The world at his feet
Widely acknowledged as the guru of contemporary Indian dance, and proud founder of the largest chain of dance schools in the country, Shiamak Davar appears to have it all, on the surface. But dig...
Parsi Author Murzban Shroff uses word “Ghati” and lands in court
Use of the word ‘ghati’ in his book Breathless in Bombay has landed first-time author Murzban Shroff in trouble, with an activist claiming that it “lowers the reputation and image of Maharashtrians...
Nazneen Sabawala: Landscape Designer
Nazneen Sabavala, director of landscape design for Dubai’s 3 Square was born in India, raised in Dubai and educated in the Middle East and the USA. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture,...
Vispi Kapadia was awarded the prestigious Utkrusht Kreeda Marg Darshak Puruskar
Vispy Kapadia is quite a familiar name in the karate circle for his contribution to the sport. And for all his hard work, he ultimately got the recognition from the state government. Kapadia was...
Parsi Priests Challenge BPP Decision after Ban
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...
Own ‘Facebook’ to spur Parsis to marry their own
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...
Sea devouring Gujarat’s coastal villages
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...
Parsi Cheesemakers: Say cheese, desi ishtyle
ABC Farms: The Parsi-run establishment, by the trio of Rohinton Aga, Adi Bathena and Eruch Chinoy (hence the ABC), have over 60 varieties of cheeses. ABC farms: 20-26810555. All local cheeses retail...
Why Parsis love Western classical music
Europe’s classical music is trying for us to listen to, and very few Indians like it By Aakar Patel in LiveMint.com To understand a culture we must examine its classical roots. No real understanding...
Parsi Journeys: The Gara, Lost Crafts
By PUSHPA CHARI for the Hindu Where have the old Parsi garas gone, with their bewitching stitches and magnificence? How does one describe the sheer perfection of Parsi gara embroidery in which birds...
Parsi Prayers and their Significance
The following is from a series titled "What is Prayers" on Frashogard.com written by our godo friend Ervad Marzban Hathiram, Of the many gifts given to Parsis by their Prophet...
Tales from Firozsha Baag now a play in New Zealand
Indian Newslink from NZ reports A play around migration and its conflicts is at the heart of an ambitious new project of the Auckland based theatre group Prayas. Following the success of its earlier...
New Rasna kids: Arzeen and Avan Khambatta
If you miss the adorable girl from the 'I Love You Rasna' campaign, then this news is going to be heartening for you. The Ahmedabad-based Rasna Group is likely to launch chairman Piruz Khambatta's...
Parsi Officers Rememberd as Bombay Police CID Turns 100
On the 100th year of the Bombay Police CID, here is some interesting trivia on Parsi officers in the CID over the last century. .The first Indian DCP of the CID: In 1928, that laurel was won by...
Zoroastrian Representative on the European Council of Religious Leaders.
Received via email from Sarosh Jehangir Message from Lille , France where we had the European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL) Council meeting. Delighted to inform you that the...
BVS Parsi High School Karachi celebrates 150 years: Postal Stamp Issued
KARACHI - On the eve of completion of hundred and fifty years of Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi High School, Karachi, the Pakistan Post has issued the commemorative stamps of Rs. 5 each. The stamps...
Diana and Mehernosh Kotwal: Parsi Restauranters in New Zealand
Lucky, lucky Beachlands residents! They have in the heart of town a superb Indian restaurant where the talented chef can char-grill a steak or prepare the perfect saagwala with equal ease. Formerly...
A Peep into Parsi Lives a 100 years ago
This article is taken from a book “A Manual of Khshnoom” by P.N. Tavaria. [Often people ask today, where has our “PARSIPANU” gone and what are the reasons of our gradual decline as an ethnic group?...
List number of flats for poor Parsis, orders HC
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Parsi Punchayet to file an affidavit stating the number of flats under its control that are available for allotment to poor Parsis. The Punchayet, one...
Dilshad Ukaji: Make-up Artist
'My work instills self-confidence in people' Meet young makeup artist Dilshad Ukaji. At the age of 25, she is assisting one of the biggest names in the Indian makeup industry -- Cory Walia -- and...
Funeral procedures for Parsis Deceased Abroad.
By Ervad (Dr.) Hoshang J. Bhadha The following funeral procedure for shipping the mortal remains to India is prepared for the Zoroastrian community in the United States. The given procedure and...
300th Anniversary of Banaji Limji Agiary Celebrations
More than 1,000 Parsis flocked to the city’s oldest fire temple to celebrate the Zoroastrian Feast of Fire, which fell on the agiary’s 300th anniversary. The Banaji Limji Agiary, in Banajit Street...
Mumbai’s Parsi Restaurants: Get It While It’s Hot
TIME Magazine: Deena Guzder With the warmth of an endearingly eccentric relative, 86-year-old Boman Kohinoor of Britannia Restaurant, tel: (91-22) 2261 5264, in south Mumbai, exclaims, "You...
NYC Persian Day Parade 2009: New York City
Here are some great images from the recent Persian Day Parade held in New York City. These pics are from flickr user Sepideh! photo stream
Maneck Engineer: An Interview
Shernaaz Engineer interviews Maneck Engineer, one of the front runners in the election for the lone seat left vacant by the passing away of BPP Trustee Rustom Tirandaz Today the community is split...
Iran: The Forgotten Glory: DVD
Iran: The Forgotten Glory is a two part DVD Movie about the Persia of yore. "Shot in over 60 locations in the province of FARS and 5 years in the making, “IRAN, The Forgotten Glory” is the first...
Ratan Tata Addresses Cathedral and John Connon School Alumni
The tug of the old school tie drew the chairman of the Tata Group to the Times of India building on Monday for an interactive session with the students of his alma mater, The Cathedral & John...
Navroze at Pasargade
Here are some pictures of Navroze being celebrated in Pasargade. However I do not have the year this was. Probably 2009 or 2008.
Radio Free Europe Interviews Arzan Sam Wadia on Navroze
Parsi Khabar's own editor Arzan Sam Wadia was recently interviewed by Radio Free Europe on the occasion of Navroze. The program was about how Navroze is celebrated worldwide and I spoke about how...
Retd Supreme Court Judge to mediate in Bombay Parsi Panchayat flat allotment
A retired Supreme Court judge is likely to be appointed as an arbitrator to sort out the issue of the allotment of 104 flats meant for poor members of the Parsi-Irani community in Mumbai by the...
The Typology of A Parsi Fire Temple
The following is compiled from various sources for The Informal Adult Classes on Zoroastrian Religion & History, by Keki B. Shroff, Toronto, Canada DADGAH, AGIARY & DAR-E-MEHR TERMS...
An Open Letter to Jame-Jamshed by Arzan Ghadially
This is an open letter sent to the Jame Jamshed by Arzan J. Ghadially. It is reproduced here with permission from the author. Week after week Jame has once again started dishing out weekly soap’s in...
Shiamak Davar: The Guru Of Contemporary Bollywood Dance
By Yogita Grover Ace choreographer Shiamak Davar was recently in town to enjoy a break from his busy schedule in B-town. The man who has been credited with the title of being “the guru” of modern...
Action Plan for Udvada proposed by Dr. Meher-Homji
Dr V M Meher-Homji outlines a proposed action plan for the small fishing town of Udvada on the west coast of India. BEACH EROSION which has ravaged Kerala and other parts of the west coast of India...
Parsis Reminisce about Karachi of yore
Karachi’s finest mayor: it’s not who you think By Sabeen Jamil If there is anyone who can comment on the administration of Karachi in its early days, it is the elderly members of the Zoroastrian, or...
Ancient Zoroastrian Valentine’s Day Custom Remains Alive
Love conquers all but tradition Maryam Sinaiee, Foreign Correspondent Young people shop for Valentine’s gifts in a mall outside Tehran on Valentine’s Day. Newsha Tavakolian / The National TEHRAN //...
The permanence of Persia
The remarkable perseverance of Iran's cultural identity By David Morgan Iran is now widely spoken of as a “regional superpower”. That status owes a good deal to the operation of a law that Michael...
Matters of Heart and Faith Guide a Zoroastrian Matchmaker
When Pouroo Dorabshaw flew to Los Angeles four years ago on a business trip, her mother urged her to visit a family friend just outside the city. The friend, it just so happened, was having a party...
Vintage Flour Mills of Karachi
The following is an article by Ghulam Baloch in the Dawn (link to article below) ACCORDING to a recent media report, there are a total of 77 flour mills in Karachi, out of which 72 are currently...
Parsis reduced to tears for homes
As if the 25-year wait for a house was not enough, allegations that she and many like her lied to get a house became too much for a 55-year-old Parsi woman at the charity commissioner’s office on...
Young Parsis moving to Silicon Plateau: Bangalore
Dasturji Jamshedji Unvulla, who took over priestly duties at the city's only Parsi temple, the Zoarastrian Anjuman, after his brother passed away last month, reveals an interesting aspect about the...
Parsis of Navsari Want Taj in Original Form
As the restoration work of the ravaged Taj Mahal Hotel has kicked-off, Parsis of Navsari are worried over something that is very dear to their heart - the beauty of the heritage structure. They want...
A Barbaric Wake Up Call
The terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which ordeal is not over even as I write, is, in my opinion a rude and dastardly wake up call. For Mumbai. For Bombay. That we are world citizens. The world has...
Nazneen Contractor’s long, strange trip to ‘The Border’
As customs agent Layla Hourani on "The Border" -- which airs Mondays on CBC Television -- Nazneen Contractor is almost a genre of one. Hourani defies both the Western stereotype of the submissive...
Dr. Homi Bhabha Birth Centenary
Article contributed by Parsi Khabar reader Percy Kavarana The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) on Thursday celebrated Dr Homi Bhabha's 99th birth anniversary amidst its Founder's Day festivities...
Tales from Cusrow Baug
by ShwetaTeotia Posted online: Oct 26, 2008 at 0205 hrs A peek into the Parsi bastion in Colaba, which is out of bounds for most Mumbaikars On Colaba Causeway, there is a place that intrigues the...
Parsi Punchayet winners decide to kiss and make up
On Wednesday night, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) acquired seven new trustees: Arnavaz Jal Mistry, Dinshaw Mehta, Jimmy Mistry, Khojeste Mistree, Yazdi Hosi Desai, Rustom Tirandaz and Noshir...
The Parsis of South Bombay
By Aakar Patel No Indian community internalised the civilising mission of the British as did the Parsis. Only 50,000 remain, mainly in South Bombay, the most disciplined and cultured part of India....