By Ervad Marzban Hathiram We live in tumultuous times. Our miseries seem never-ending. Calamities, both natural and human-made, visit us with uncanny regularity. Faced with these misfortunes, some of us feel betrayed by God. Does He not see the pain we are going through? Why does He allow so much evil to flourish on this… Continue reading The Zoroastrian Way Of Seeking Solace
Category: Customs
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 ceremonies are applicable only to those who belong to the Zoroastrian fold (both parents are Zoroastrians and practicing the Zoroastrian religion); who has not… Continue reading Funeral procedures for Parsis Deceased Abroad.
Celebrating the Atash nu Parab
By Firoza Punthakey-Mistree courtesy of Zoroastrian Studies. On Adar Ruz, Adar Mah, the Parsis of India celebrate the feast of Fire known as the Atash nu parab. This feast is celebrated largely by the women in the family, who prepare the hearth fire for this festival by cleaning the kitchen and making purchases for the… Continue reading Celebrating the Atash nu Parab
Nowruz Celebrations in China: Xinjiang Uyghur
Nowruz Festival is a traditional holiday with a long history. In Xinjiang, all national minority believe in Islam celebrate the festival. The word came from Iranian, means “Spring Water“, equating to vernal equinox (4th solar term). It falls on March 22. Before Uyghur national minority believed in Islamism, they worshiped many gods such as sun… Continue reading Nowruz Celebrations in China: Xinjiang Uyghur
Wedding trousseau, the Parsi style
Women display Parsi wear at the exhibition on Friday. Picture by Bhola Prasad Jamshedpur, Sept. 19: After wearing saris of Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra and south India to your relatives’ weddings, if you want something unique then head for the Parsi Association Hall at Sakchi. Mumbai-based Parsi community is organising a two-day exhibition in the city… Continue reading Wedding trousseau, the Parsi style
Significance of Sudreh and Kusti
Sudra is a special shirt of nine seams worn just next to the skin made of cotton and white in colour and prepared from one whole piece of cloth. On such a Sudra round the waist is girded a kusti. The Mazdiyasnis before the advent of Zarthustra, used to put on sudra and… Continue reading Significance of Sudreh and Kusti
The Ceremonies of a Parsi Wedding
Parsi Lagan or Wedding is marked by vibrant and joyful customs that spread over a couple of days. Unique and interesting rituals begin from the time of engagement and culminate with a lavish post wedding reception where one gets to enjoy the rich Parsi culture in the form of good music, wine and dining. Pre-Wedding… Continue reading The Ceremonies of a Parsi Wedding
Dead as a dodo? Why scientists fear for the future of of the Asian vulture
You have to feel sorry for vultures. For animal campaigners they are a difficult case. Other, more photogenic, slightly less sinister creatures may gain the world’s sympathy at the drop of a hat, but raising money to save the world’s most proficient scavenger is a different matter. As far as the Asian vulture is concerned,… Continue reading Dead as a dodo? Why scientists fear for the future of of the Asian vulture
Parsi Statues: Cenotaph To History
The route from Churchgate to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is sprinkled with memorials to sentinels of Mumbai history. Only, nobody cares Sipping my masala chai one morning, I suddenly realized that the Khada Parsi statue, literally the Standing Parsi standing not far from where I live, had a name: Shet Cursetjee Manockjee, whose statue had been… Continue reading Parsi Statues: Cenotaph To History
