Today is the Vahishtoishti Gatha, the fifth and final Gatha day of this year’s muktad. And in the 2025 Everyday Parsi series we feature our eleventh and final author Xerxes Commissariat.
The ten days of Muktad prayers are, to me, a time of deep reverence — when the community gathers to honor the Fravashis of our loved ones.
As a child, I remember attending Muktad prayers at the Behrana Agyari in Karachi with my parents and brother. The jam-packed hall on the second floor is where the Humbandagi prayers took place. The prayers started promptly at 7:00 a.m. and were led by the Patloo sisters — Daisy and Persi. Everyone in attendance would chant the kardas from a small booklet, followed by a translation.
After the Humbandagi prayers, there was a brief talk on various topics by the late Ervard Godrej Sidhwa.
Behrana Agyari, Karachi
In the adjacent area, the room was filled with numerous flower vases, where prayers were also offered for individual families.
Muktad Floral Vases at the Behrana Agyari, Karachi – 2025
I have fond memories of sitting with my Parsi friends, and as the Humbandagi concluded, a bunch of us boys would begin a ten-minute walk to the Bai Virbaiji Soparivala Parsi High School, where we attended school. Having gone to a Parsi school, we also had additional prayers and discussions related to Muktad during the ten days, led by the late Ervard Godrej Sidhwa.
After finishing 12th grade, I moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1998. I recall continuing the tradition of attending the Muktad prayers at Anahita Sidhwa’s house, since ZANT (Zoroastrian Association of North Texas) did not have a center of their own at that time. Ervard Porus Balsara led the Humbandagi prayers, which were followed by chasni, tea, and snacks.
Later on, when I moved to Irvine, California in 2003, the tradition of attending the ten-day Muktad prayers continued at Ervads Zarrir and Zerksis Bhandara’s residence. ZAC (Zoroastrian Association of California) did not have a center, and the Bhandaras graciously opened their house to the community. The daily Muktad prayers were followed by chasni and refreshments.
Subsequently, when the ZAC Atash Kadeh was inaugurated in 2016, the Muktad prayers continued to be held every year, drawing hundreds of people to pay their respects. Every year before the Muktad days, ZAC members gather for a communal cleanup of the Atash Kadeh. All furniture and chairs are removed, and everything — from floors and windows to lamp shades — is scrubbed in preparation for the holy days.
2025 marks the 34th year of the Muktad prayers being held in Southern California and the 9th year at the ZAC Atash Kadeh. Over five hundred names of our dear departed are recited and lovingly remembered.
Muktad Floral Vases at the Zoroastrian Association of California Atash Kadeh – 2025
Last year, Ervad Zerkxis Bhandara performed 22 Baaj ceremonies (Baaj is one of the inner liturgies, a Pav Mehel Kriya within the family of the Yajashne, Vendidad, and Nirangdin). The Zoroastrian Association of California is the only community outside India/Pakistan to have this ceremony performed regularly.
Myself, along with the Southern California community, is fortunate to have Ervads Zarrir and Zerksis Bhandara, who continue to keep the tradition of Muktad prayers alive — allowing my children to experience them just as I once did.
About Xerxes Commissariat
Xerxes Commissariat currently serves as the Vice President of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA).
Having been a resident of Southern California since 2003, Xerxes is a proud life member of the Zoroastrian Association of California (ZAC). Over the past twenty-two years, he has played an integral role in the Southern California Zoroastrian community. Presently, he serves as the co-chair of the association’s maintenance committee, a position he’s held for the past decade.
Additionally, he has contributed to the association’s expansion sub-committee. From overseeing maintenance to organizing social events, he continues to lead and coordinate many of ZAC’s annual functions.
Prior to relocating to California, Xerxes resided in Dallas, Texas, where he completed his undergraduate degree. During his time in Dallas, he actively participated in the Zoroastrian Association of North Texas (ZANT) community and served on ZANT’s Finance & Investment sub-committee.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and currently resides in Irvine, California, with his wife Diana and two children, Zane and Zara.