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Diaspora Articles
First Parsi and Zoroastrian museum opens in Singapore
Singaporeans now have a chance to learn more about the Parsi community, numbering about 350 here, with the opening of...
The Zoroastrian Association of California Celebrates the 5th Salgreh of their Atashkadeh
The 5th Salgreh of the Zoroastrian Association of California‘s Atash Kadeh was celebrated with great religious fervor and Parsi gusto on the 12th of November. The celebration started a week...
Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia: The esteemed Indian ancestor no one in my white British family knew about
Who do you think you are? The esteemed Indian ancestor no one in my white British family knew aboutImage: Ardaseer Cursetjee, the first South Asian Fellow of the Royal Society, has been awarded a...
Establishment of North American Institute of Zoroastrian Studies
It is now more than two score and ten years since Zoroastrians from various parts of the world have settled in North America, bringing with them their religious practices, traditions and cultures...
XYZ Whacky Weekend Comes to North East USA and Canada
Our dear friends at XYZ Foundation are collaborating with FEZANA Member Associations to create the hugely popular XYZ Whacky Weekend for youth in North America. The first weekend is planned for...
Haringey Lib Dems lead calls for First Indian MP to be commemorated in Muswell Hill
Haringey should honour Sir Dadabhai Naoroji MP, generally considered to be the first Indian and non-white person elected to the House of Commons, according to opposition Lib Dem councillors.Article...
Zoroastrian Association of California Celebrates the 3rd Salgreh of their Atashkadeh
The 3rd Salgreh of the Zoroastrian Association of California‘s Atash Kadeh was celebrated with great religious fervor on November 13, 2019A maachi was offered at all five gehs. Two of which were...
Zoroastrianism: The rhapsody of an ancient faith
In the Oscar-winning film “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a biopic of Freddie Mercury, his father berates him: “So now the family name is not good enough for you?” “I changed it legally,” Mercury responds. “No...
From A Hong Kong businessman to philanthropist: Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee.
Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee faced business failures, political unrest and personal tragedy in Hong Kong, but his devotion to the city and its people never wavered By Rhea Mogul | South China...
Behramji Merwanji Malabari: A Parsi in London
Historians have written not just pages, but books on his life; he is a wellknown figure in the Parsi historical hall of fame; it should be a polite yawn by now to read the writings of social...
Rustom Ghadiali: Zoroastrian priest a firm supporter of inter-faith harmony
Our dear friend, mentor and one of Singapore's leading Parsi Rustom Ghadiali was featured in a Straits Times article earlier this month One of the most memorable questions Mr Rustom Ghadiali was...
Karachi Press Club: The majestic heritage monument that still stands tall
The southern port city of Pakistan, Karachi has enjoyed immense strategic value for centuries. When the British realised its strategic significance, the city became the centre of many official civil...
Vote for Parsi Road Station in Singapore
Our dear friends Shirin and Rssi Ghadiali of Singapore have sent us this request. We urge all of you to sign the petition. To do so, click on the link below. All you need to enter there is your...
Parsis Of Sri Lanka: Denizens From A Land Far Away
In British colonial times, enterprising Parsis looked further south, and set their sights on Sri Lanka, bringing home a good many Parsi families. Parsi Pioneers Gathering of Parsis outside Parsi...
Hong Kong’s first land sale featured some unusual, but familiar, names
Hong Kong’s very earliest days were dominated – surprise – by the question of land. Traders had begun putting up mat-shed structures and company jetties in 1841, even before the Treaty of Nanking of...
Guess who’s coming to dinner? Zoroastrian priest changed by daughter’s interfaith marriage
Jal Panthaky is a Zoroastrian priest, with a love of life and a staunch dedication to his faith. He is both a proud father and a deeply spiritual man. But neither of these are static...
Homyar Nasirabadwala: Being A Parsi Priest in Hong Kong
Homyar Nasirabadwala, one of the few full-time Parsi priests working outside India, talks about his community, traditions and making sure the dhansak is right In a small, air-conditioned room in...
Vada Dasturji Khurshed K Dastoor & Lord Karan F Bilimoria on board INS Tarkash launch HMS Trincomalee Bicentenary
Vada Dasturji Khurshed K Dastoor, High Priest of Iranshah Atash Behram, Udvada, ZTFE patron Lord Karan F Bilimoria CBE DL and ZTFE President Malcolm M Deboo led the the ZTFE delegation on board the...
In Houston FEZANA Bestows Lifetime Achievement Award to Ervad Dr. Jehan Bagli
At a glittering 30th Anniversary Gala in Houston, FEZANA bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award to Ervad Dr. Jehan Bagli. The Gala was hosted by the Zoroastrian Association of Houston at its...
In New York: A new year for Zoroastrians, a new challenge
Members of the Dar-e-Mehr Zoroastrian Temple in Pomona get ready for their new year celebration as they worry about the Trump travel ban Report by Peter Carr/The Journal News New City’s Marzie...
Global Working Group 2016 Meeting in Hong Kong: Press Release
The Global Working Group brings together representatives of Federations in the diaspora. The GWG met in Hongkong on 15 and 16 December. As per tradition, the meeting was presided by the host...
The Parsis fighting to stop their culture dying out, and why it appears doomed
The birth and death notices in Parsiana tell a stark story. The June edition of the Mumbai-based magazine for Parsis lists two births and 46 deaths in the city. Perhaps June was not a typical month,...
FEZANA’s Statement on the US Presidential Elections 2016
On Tuesday, November 8th, Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States of America. The reverberations both within the United States, Canada and globally have led to everything...
FEZANA AT 30: Year Long Celebrations Kick Off
The apex body of Zoroastrians in North America, the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America kicks off its 30th Anniversary Celebrations this weekend with a Gala function at its...
The Parsi Connection to the US Diwali Stamp
Due to the request of the author quoted in an earlier version of the article, we have removed the author's note. Here is an interesting Parsi connection to the very first Diwali Stamp issued by the...
Houston Welcomes Udvada’s Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor
Houston Welcomes Udvada’s Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor It began with a simple email from Ervad Soli Dastur of Florida, who wrote to some of us about Udvada’s Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor’s visit...
Parsis sweetening rich Canadian diversity, like sugar in milk
One small community that has continued to punch way above its weight and even today sweetens the rich cultural diversity that is India is the Parsi community. And just as Indians started immigrating...
Westminster Service Honours Parsi/Irani Soldiers in United Kingdom
A service was held in remembrance of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Somme 1916-2016. Many Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives during this devastating war and 19 Parsi soldiers died on the...
Rustom M. Ghadiali Elected President of Inter-Religious Organisation Singapore
UPDATE: An earlier version of this article indicated that Russi was the current President of PZAS. Russi informed us that he had stepped down earlier this year. We have made the appropriate...
WZCC NY Lecture Series: Investments In India and Tax Impacts in the USA
WZCC NY CHAPTER LECTURE SERIES INVESTMENTS IN INDIA AND THE TAX IMPACTS BY VIKRAM VENKATARAMANI VVV CPA PC At the New York Dar-E-Mehr On SUNDAY JUNE 5, 2016 @ 1:30 PM WZCC NY Presents: INVESTMENTS...
Becoming my mother’s priest: keeping Zoroastrianism alive in Canada
At the young age of eight, did you know what you wanted to do with the rest of your life? Well, Hormuz Javat knew what he wanted to be. He made a choice, and he's sticking with it: Hormuz decided to...
It’s Raining Zarathushti Kids in Seattle
Nestled in the northwest corner of the US lies a city where not only does the rain come pouring down, but so do adorable Zoroastrian babies. Our once small ZSWS (Zoroastrian Society of Washington...
Arman Ariane: Claremont clothier’s religion, Zoroastrianism, a good fit for Morgan Freeman
A men’s clothier in Claremont was interviewed by Morgan Freeman for his “The Story of God” miniseries, and somehow did not provide him with a coat of many colors. by David Allen, dailybulletin.com...
Zoroastrian Americans of New York Inaugurate their Newly Built Cultural Community Center
As the rising morning sun shone down to provide its soothing warmth, enlightening light and nurturing energy to the dedication of the newly built Arbab-Rustm Guiv Dar-e-Mehr Zoroastrian Temple...
What It’s Like to Have to Date Someone of Your Religion to Save It From Extinction
When Parsi Zoroastrians, having fled Persian persecution, arrived on Indian soil sometime between the 8th and 10th centuries, the story goes, an Indian ruler sent a cup full of milk. The intention,...
Live Streaming: New York Dar-E-Mehr Inauguration
In a few hours the Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-E-Mehr in New York shall be inaugurated. The Inauguration Ceremony shall be telecast live on youtube. The broadcast will start on Saturday March 26th, 2016...
Zoroastrians Build New Religious And Cultural Center In New York
Zoroastrians, or Zarathushtis as they are traditionally called, are fighting stereotypes about the community’s decline, opening a new religious and cultural center in Pomona, N.Y. this March, and...
FEZANA And The 60th Commission On The Status Of Women (CSW)
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. This was a historic step taken be UN Member States in...
American Desis: In conversation with Freya Motafram
The Indian Subcontinent is dominated by three religions: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. But just there are thousands of dialects, there are also many different religions. This week we bring to...
7th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress to be held in 2019 in United States
The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, in a recent website update informs: FEZANA wishes a Happy NewYear 2016 to all Zarathustis globally in North America and around the world....
Zarathushti Wedding Ceremony in Australia shows love must overcome fear
Cronulla couple Rutty Talati and Tristan Harley were married according to the rites of the Zoroastrian religion, one of the world’s rarest faiths.The multi-cultural aspects of the marriage included...
Neville Shroff Talks About Parsi Contributions On Hong Kong TV
Neville Shroff, one of the trustees of The Incorporated Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao was recently on Hong Kong's prestigious TVB in a segment about Parsis and their...
Saving the Zoroastrians: An Australian Perspective
Here is a clip from SBS Australia aired in May 2013 “Have you ever heard of Zoroastrianism? If not, that's because there aren't many Zoroastrians left. Jeannette Francis talks to a family facing the...
Zarathushtis of Los Angeles Break Ground for their new Atash Kadeh
The Zarathushtis of Los Angeles have broken ground on their Atash Kadeh in Orange County. This is truly a momentous occasion and a continuation of the trend of Zoroastrianism spreading and finding...
The Parsi community is shrinking but not in Singapore
Globally, the Parsi community is shrinking so fast from an ever- declining birth rate that India is now campaigning for Parsis to make childbearing a duty. One such campaign advertisement earlier...
A Mistri gift to A Singapore Hospital
In the third instalment of a five-part series on Singapore's oldest communities, The Straits Times looks at the warm, laughter-loving Parsis. Here, Noshir Mistri explains why his philanthropist...
Challenges of being Parsi in a mixed marriage
At 20, India-born Dilnawaz Zaveri nee Bharucha was gasping to see the world. The daughter of a retired engineering company manager and a doctor, she was looking for a ticket out of India. Now 46,...
Loyalty to Lahore
Variously described as "The Pearl of Punjab” or "The Heart of Pakistan,” Lahore brings to mind different images. Whilst Niloufer Bilimoria relates her recent experiences across the border, Parsiana...
In Toronto Zoroastrians’ passing of priesthood and traditions
When Hormuz Mahveer Javat was 8, his parents popped an unusual question to the Mississauga boy: “Do you want to become a priest?” Although he always attended all the religious services and...
Cooper Union’s President Jamshed Bharucha Quits
The fight over the future of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, an arts and engineering college in New York City, came to a head this week as five members of its Board of...
A House for Mr Tata – An Old Shanghai Tale tells us something new about China and India
In 1904, Bejan Dadabhoy Tata, a distant cousin of the founders of the House of Tata, left India’s shores for Shanghai. He set himself up in the textile trade and displayed the legendary business...