Toronto’s Jashan In the Baug: A Photo Essay

Date

June 25, 2015

Post by

arZan

Category

Events

On July 21, 2015 the Ontario Zoroastrian Community Foundation (OZCF), located on beautiful 10 acres of land, held a huge event of “Jashan in the Baug” on their premises at 1187 Burnhamthorpe Road East Oakville, Ontario. Canada,

This event was specially organized to recognize the Mobeds who from many years have continued to provide religious services to the Zoroastrian community in North America and also to showcase the Arfarghanyu that has been donated from the Zanzibar Agiary to the Ontario Zoroastrian Community Foundation. This Arfarghanyu will eventually be housed in the OZCF Agiary.

The event was held in a well decorated, two huge tents each 100 ft. by 40 ft. with beautiful flowers, tables and chairs set up on the well maintained grass. The tents were fully packed by a sold-out crowd over 650 Zoroastrians. There was well organized parking guides who efficiently parked well over 330 cars. The day started off by 2 youths providing brief explanation of Jashan, religious songs by youths of our Religious Classes and welcome speech by the organizing committee Co-chairs Rumi Jasavala, Kermin Byramjee and the President of OZCF Mr. Percy Dastur.

11406381_10206979311380138_321548872739504487_o

FEZANA President Katayun Kapadia and Vice President Homi Gandhi presenting the replica of Cyrus Cylinder from the 6th Century B.C.

11537885_10206979310140107_5323217143491803275_o

30 priests performing the Jashan (thanksgiving) prayers. A first time on the history of North America

11114353_10206979311460140_7851338691830550122_o

L to R – Councilor Tom Adams, FEZANA President Katayun Kapadia, Senior Priest Ervad Nozer Kotwal, ZSO President Bina Behboodi and OZCF President Percy Dastur.

11402401_10206979312140157_6919320684152330518_o

The Priests with the OZCF President

 

The Jashan was performed by 30 mobeds including young and old from Ontario Canada. It was amazing to hear 30 mobeds praying in sink. It really was a historical moment for North America.

At the end of the Jashan there were speeches by Councillor Tom Adam of Oakville, Katayun Kapadia president of FEZANA, Bina Behbudi, president of ZSO and by the Mr. Percy Dastur, president of OZCF. After the speeches the mobeds were presented with a beautiful glass award in the shape of a flame. All the Board members and the Jashan organizing committee members were also recognized. At the end of the speeches OZCF was presented with Cyrus’s Cylinder replica by Homi Gandhi, Vice Precedent of FEZANA.

There was plenty of delicious Parsi food, fruits, dry fruits, malido, sev, dahi, ice-cream, cakes etc. donated by OZCF members which everyone enjoyed. The crowd was entertained by young Zoroastrian girls and boys singing and dancing throughout the day on the stage and a live band with lovely music. At the end there was a final Raffle Draw which is a trip for two to South Africa.

The entire event was tele-cast all over the world. With the Blessings of Ahura Mazda the weather turned out to be sunny and cool and the day was well spent by the Zoroastrians. It will be a memorable day for a long time to come.

11423877_10206979311620144_5533976710721356488_o

All 7 Presidents of OZCF from 2002. The Past and the Present

11023336_10206979325220484_7849098175474495414_o

11415530_10206979325980503_2431674254655413987_o

 

10624027_10206979326460515_9101542965108505397_o

11406442_10206979373821699_8138239126256783229_o

10636788_10206979389102081_7903694264638566935_o

11391207_10206979389262085_7998005522067176885_n

11265237_10206979389902101_8796112292815848559_n