Our dear friend Ervad Zarrir Bhandara of Southern California writes in…I sincerely thank you all for your...
Religion Articles
The Starting of Good Times: Zoroastrian Perspective
I’d like to shed some light on the present circumstances from a Zoroastrian perspective. The virus, pandemic, or any...
How to cover our heads as Zoroastrians
Some people have asked why we cover our heads as Zoroastrians. I was perturbed to hear a Parsi grandmother telling her grandkids that it was a symbolic act of submission and humility, thus...
Coronavirus: Neither ‘Divinity’s Wrath’ nor ‘Nature’s Vengeance’!
Our dear friend Noshir H. Dadrawala wrote this article that was first published in the Parsi-Times. The novel coronavirus is neither ‘Divinity’s Wrath’ nor ‘Nature’s Vengeance’. From a Zoroastrian...
Empowering Mobeds Conduct Second Offsite Workshop in Sanjan
Last weekend the Empowering Mobeds hosted an offsite workshop at the WZO Sanatorium in Sanjan. Over two days, young mobeds from the Dadar Athornan Institute gathered along with some of their dads,...
Thanksgiving Celebrations in the USA: Op-Ed by Ervad Soli Dastur
Our dearest friend and mentor Ervad Soli Dastur writes on the occasion of Thanksgiving in the United states. Ervad Soli writes On Thursday, November 28th, the whole USA will celebrate one of the...
Zip-lining Zoroastrianism to the Communty and at SOAS – Not Just a Lesson in History
It is difficult to Zip-line religious facts from 1500 BCE to the present times but this is exactly what Khojeste Mistree did in his four hour session with teenagers and adults in London. At the...
Ervad Zarrir Bhandara’s Talk at the Ripon Club Mumbai
The following speech was delivered by Ervad Zarrir Bhandara at the Ripon Club Mumbai on Saturday November 2nd, 2019. “Mobed’s Heart to Mobeds’ Hearts” event. This event was organized by the...
From A Mobed’s Heart To Mobeds’ Hearts: Ervad Zarrir Bhandara
A fantastic event is being planned by our dear friend and mentor Dr. Mickey Mehta on November 2, 2019. "From A Mobed's Heart To Mobeds' Hearts" will feature the amazing Shihan Ervad Zarrir Bhandara....
Zoroastrian Association of California Celebrates Ardibehest Amshaspand Parabh.
On Wednesday September 18th, the members of Zoroastrian Association of California celebrated the Ardibehest Amshaspand parabh with a Jashan performed by Ervads Zarrir Bhandara, Jal Birdy and Kairus...
Global Working Group Renews Amelioration And Welfare Scheme of Senior Mobeds And Widows of Senior Mobeds
Our dear friend and mentor Dinshaw K. Tamboly informs…Community members are aware that Global Working Group (GWG) – comprising the elected Parsi Irani Zoroastrian Federations, Associations in...
2019 Muktad in Southern California
Our dear friend Ervad Zarrir Bhandara has been the leading mobed in the Los Angeles area for nearly three decades. He writes in about the most recent Muktad prayers…My dear family and friends,I...
Ervad Verzan Karkaria Ordained as Navar in Mumbai
9 -year old Er. Verzan Karkaria, son of proud parents Jennifer and Er.Cherag Sam Karkaria, was ordained Navar on 2nd June, 2019 at Kappawalla Agiary, Tardeo under the able guidance of Panthaki...
Empowering Mobeds Invites Mobeds To Open House Discussion
Empowering Mobeds invites all Mobed sahebs and their wives to an Open-house discussion on a much needed topic that needs attention – ‘Expectations To Enroll Your Son In Full Time Mobedi’. This will...
Hosi Mehta Shares Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds!
Our dear friend Hosi Mehta, Co-Chair of the FEZANA Welfare and Critical Assistance Committee, Chicago resident, business owner, and all around good guy, shares his life story. Mehta describes...
Empowering Mobeds Offsite Training Seminar in Sanjan
The first ever off site Mobed Training seminar was organized by the Empowering Mobeds team last weekend in Sanjan, Gujarat, India Young Binaifer is in a deep dilemma- her first heartbreak has left...
Ervad Zal Darius Mody Ordained as Navar
Ervad Zal Darius Mody was recently ordained as a Navar on December 20, 2018, Roj Khordad, Mah Amardad, in memory of his grand uncle Ervad Sorab Hormusji Mody. Zal was taught his Navar prayers...
Ervad Freyaan K. Vimadalal of Houston ordained as Navar
Parsi Khabar is happy to announce that the son of our dear friends Khushroo and Parynaz Vimadalal was ordained as a Navar this past week. Ervad Freyaan K. Vimadalal was born in New Jersey USA and...
Vada Dasturji Dr. Firoz Kotwal Explains Muktad Rituals and Prayers
The eminent Vada Dasturji, Dasturji Dr Firoze Kotwal enthralled the packed hall at the Empowering Powering Mobeds program on July 22, 2018 with his talk on the highly technical aspects of the...
Manuscript: Ashem Vohu
This manuscript comes not from India or Iran, the lands associated today with the Zoroastrian religion, but from Dunhuang in Central China, and is written in Sogdian, a medieval Iranian language. It...
BBC Forum: Sacred flames that burn for hundreds of years
It is a religion that has lasted three millennia, claims to be the world's first monotheistic creed and to have influenced major faiths such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam, inspired artists from...
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 facilitators by enhancing their...
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 &...
Parsis can soon knock on temple doors for counselling
A Parsi priest could soon be your counsellor, too. On May 13, the first of a series of workshops begins in Mumbai to help priests take up community roles that go beyond the religious. They will be...
Jiyo Mobed Workshop
Dear Friends, For many years we have been discussing the importance of giving respect to our Priests and enabling them to become Pastors to the Parsi community, as are the Catholic Priests as well...
Not many takers for the Mobedyar scehem in Mumbai
Last week’s column on the ordainment of two deacons in Mumbai’s Catholic Church attracted a lot of interest among Parsi-Zoroastrians. Unlike members of the clergy, who need to be celibate, deacons...
The obscure religion that shaped the West
Talk of ‘us’ and ‘them’ has long dominated Iran-related politics in the West. At the same time, Christianity has frequently been used to define the identity and values of the US and Europe, as well...
Zarahushtra’s Vision and Zoroastrianism Today: Prof. K. D. Irani
The Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) invited it’s founding member and past President Professor Kaikhosrov D. Irani to deliver a talk about “Zarathushtra’s Vision and...
Morgan Freeman: Christianity, Judaism and Islam Draw Their Tenets from Zoroastrianism
Morgan Freeman tells the origins of three major world religions in the second season of The Story of God by Elisa Meyer, worldreligionnews.com National Geographic, known for its matter-of-fact...
Ghee Khichdi Ritual in Navsari: A News Report
Navsari often referred to as the "Dharam Ni Tekdi" Parsis has many of the traditional customs and practices that have over time been forgotten in other cities and town. The Ghee Khichri ritual on...
Morgan Freeman embarks on an almighty quest to find God for TV documentary
The actor's new television series explores the existence of God Morgan Freeman embarks on quest to find God for TV documentary Tom Teodorczuk More than 10 years after playing God, Morgan Freeman has...
Hormuz Javat: 13-year-old Zoroastrian priest keeps tradition alive
When Hormuz Javat was 8 years old, he faced a pretty serious decision: did he want to begin training as a Zoroastrian priest? He'd have to begin soon because the training took four years, building...
A Nirangdin in Navsari at the Vadi Dar-E-Mehr
A sacred nirangdin ceremony was held at the historic 874 years old Vadi Daremeher, Navsari on Roz Aspandarmad Mah Tir Yezdezerdi 1385 Friday midnight of 20th November 2015. The ceremony which lasted...
Laudato Si: Insight of Spenta Armaity
FEZANA recently put out a research paper titled “Laudato Si: Insight of Spenta Armaity”. The entire document can be accessed on FEZANA’s website. Below is a short primer. FEZANA informs The...
The Life And Times Of Vakshure Vakshuran Ramazgo Asho Spitman Prophet Zarathushtra
Vakshure vakshuran means the prophet of prophets who is born just once in a cycle of nature for a long long time. Ramazgo means one who is aware of the core information of the universe. Article by...
Making Muktad More Meaningful
Muktad are the 10 days starting from Roj Ashtad of Mah Spendarmad and ending on Vahishtoisht Gatha, when, according to Zoroastrian tradition, all Fravashis and souls collectively descend every year...
The Amesha Spenta or the Divine Attributes of God
Here is a very good commentary on the teachings of Zarathustra and the Divine Attributesof Ahura Mazda by Scott Nelson who is an instructor on comparative religions & philosophy....
Clarifications in The Banning of Priests Case
Clarification issued jointly by Jamsheed Kanga & Homi Khusrokhan There appear to be several misunderstandings concerning the Settlement entered into on 17.02.’15 in the matter of the Notice...
Can Higher Salaries Save Parsi Priesthood?
Ardeshir Nariman, 15, is fast approaching graduation. Like many boys his age in Mumbai—educated and upwardly mobile, his curiosity heavily seasoned with ambition—he’ll continue to college to study...
Weekly Zoroastrian Scripture Extract: Ervad Soli P. Dastur
Our dear friend and respected Ervad Saheb Soli P. Dastur of Florida, USA informs us about the web presence of his extremely popular Weekly Zoroastrian Scripture Extract. More than 75+ and counting...
Decoding Religion: Zoroastrianism
Ancient Persian faith perseveres today despite declining populations, limited presence on campus In an effort to further understand UTD’s diverse popluation, what follows is part one in a four-part...
Rethink Religion: A New Initiative
Rethink Religion is a new initiative set up by a group of Zarathushtis based in Princeton, New Jersey; USA. They are conducting an initial survey to find out how global youth view and practice their...
Refresher Program for Ervads, Ostas, Behdins and Pasbaans at the Cama Athornan In Mumbai
Below is a public service announcement received via email. WITH THE BLESSINGS OF LATE SETH MERWANJI MUNCHERJI CAMA – OUR BENEFACTOR, The EX-STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION of THE M.F. CAMA ATHORNAN INSTITUTE...
Celebrating a Treasure: 140 Years at the First Dastoor Meherjirana Library, Navsari
This is the title of an international conference being organized by the Meherjirana Library and PARZOR. The conference is being held from January 12 to 15, 2013. The conference has a power-packed...
Allahabad Parsis Relying on ‘temporary’ Parsi priest for rituals
ALLAHABAD: Even as the heads count of the Parsi community is diminishing, both in the Sangam city as well as across the country, the community is struggling to find a 'Mobed' (Priest) to perform...
World’s Biggest Aviary Built So World’s Oldest Religions Can Feed Corpses To Vultures
The biggest aviary in the world is set to be built in Mumbai so that followers of one of the world's oldest religions can have their corpses fed to vultures after their deaths. Published on MyFoxDC....
Sandalwood and Money at the Fire Temple
When we go to the Agiary or Atash Behram to pray, we sometimes do things involuntarily without knowing if our actions are right or wrong. One such example is when offering money along with the...
What is the Zarathushti Identity ?
The Parsi diaspora in North America has a long history and presence. The Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York [ ZAGNY ]has been one of the first Zarathushti community associations in North...
The fun of being a Parsee
It lies in many things.... It's like belonging to an exclusive Club worldwide. Birth, the only credential and consideration; nothing, but nothing else works, no sirree! No waiting lists, no entrance...
Bangalore’s only fire temple is being slowly smoked out
It was built in 1926, and the Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman (BPZA) is keen to preserve the sanctity of the only fire temple in the city, now uncomfortably located at a busy intersection, en...
Weaving a Kasti: Threads of Continuity
Ashdeen Z Lilaowala walks us through the creation of the hallowed Zoroastrian kusti or sacred thread that is an integral part of spiritual tradition among members of the Parsi community [ TOI...
Areez Khambata Attacks Iranshah High Priests
Respected High Priests, “Finally the cat is out of the bag” as to why Khurshedji Dastur as well as his Udvada Samast Anjuman did not have the guts to reply to Valsad Anjuman’s letters in connection...