The 2nd Salgreh of Zoroastrian Association of California Atashkadeh was celebrated with great religious fervor on November 13th. The day started with Zerkxis Bhandara doing Chowk and with the Bui ceremony. In the evening a one kg pure Sandalwood Hama Anjuman Machi was offered to the holy fire which was followed by a Hama Anjuman Jashan performed by Ervads Zarrir and Zerkxis Bhandara, Jal Birdy, Minoo Katrack, Fariborz Shahzadi and mobedyar Maneck Bhujwalla.
After the Jashan a very informative and interactive talk on fire was delivered by Ervad Zarrir Bhandara which was simultaneously interpreted by Ervad Fariborze Shahzadi in Persian for the benefit of the Persian speaking crowd in which Zarrir explained the definition of energy showing the uncanny similarities with the characteristics of God. He explained that according to Physics energy can never be created or destroyed, has always been and will always be there, always moving into/ out of form and through the form.
All these characteristics apply directly to God as well. He further extrapolated that the purest physical form of energy that the human eye can see- according to science- is fire and we Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda through fire. So, we can further deduce that God is energy and that our reverence to fire and various natural elements is further justified. Moreover, Zarir stated that the holy fire performs a dual function of being a receiver and a transmitter, which receives the energy from the eternal fire of Ahura Mazda and when a devotee stands in front of the fire he/she receives the blessings from the fire.
Additionally, he explained the three different grades of fire and the consecration process of the same. ZAC’s president Mrs. Houtoxi F. Contractor thanked all the attendees and the priests, which was followed by a delicious dinner made by Reshma and Adil Rustomi and a birthday cake brought by Dr. Farhad Contractor.
