The sandy shores of Nargol and Sanjan along the Maharashtra-Gujarat coast offer respite and a quiet escape, as well as a look at the Zoroastrian community’s strong ties with this land. Chikoos, authentic Parsi cuisine and a slice of the good life promise to be your ticket back in time. By C. Gangadharan Menon |… Continue reading Nargol and Sanjan: Fire, water and a holy calm
Category: Heritage
Thread Bare: The Art of Kusti Weaving
An unusual book on the weaving of the sacred thread worn by the Parsis adds to the craft revival stories in India Few, even among textile conservationists, would imagine a book deconstructing kusti, (pronounced ‘kasti’), the sacred thread worn by the Parsi community. It is certainly not a topic that dots fashion conversations these days.… Continue reading Thread Bare: The Art of Kusti Weaving
The Carriage of Pestonjee Press of the Fort Coach Company Exhibited in San Francisco Museum
An ornate silver carriage, built in 1915 by Pestonjee Press of the Fort Coach Company for the Maharajah of Bhavnagar, was featured at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum’s “Maharaja” exhibit that closed here April 8. By Sunita Sohrabji | India West The exhibit — which featured the art and artifacts of India’s princely rulers… Continue reading The Carriage of Pestonjee Press of the Fort Coach Company Exhibited in San Francisco Museum
Do Parsis lack a proper sense of history?
Our good friend Dinyar Patel asks a very valid and pertinent question Do Parsis lack a proper sense of history? It is a question that I have often wondered while traveling and conducting research across India in the past fourteen months. Our history and culture is as rich as that of any other community in… Continue reading Do Parsis lack a proper sense of history?
Pervez Damania In Conversation: ‘Udvada is a microcosm of the Parsi way of life’
Parvez Damania, offers a glimpse into the Parsi community through a photography exhibition in the city. By Jayeeta Mazumder | DNA What prompted you to go on a photographic documentation of the Udvada in the first place? It’s a heritage place, with enormous historical, cultural and religious significance to India, and all our future generations.… Continue reading Pervez Damania In Conversation: ‘Udvada is a microcosm of the Parsi way of life’
The compilation that could save a community
Two members of the Zoroastrian community have taken the initiative to preserve the community’s oral history by compiling a book on Parsi-Gujarati idioms. You can contribute too By Aviva Dharmaraj | Mid-Day Meher Marfatia and Sooni Taraporevala are compiling a book on Parsi-Gujarati idioms to preserve the oral history of the Zoroastrian community. "We are… Continue reading The compilation that could save a community
The Parsis, Once India’s Curators, Now Shrug as History Rots
In the course of over one year of archival research in India, I have been heartened to see how, in a few institutions like the National Archives, the country’s rotting history now has a fighting chance of survival. However, I have been deeply dismayed by one observation: the inability of my own community, the Parsis,… Continue reading The Parsis, Once India’s Curators, Now Shrug as History Rots
Remembering Parsi greats on Navroze
Today Parsi’s celebrate Jamshedi Nauroze and will engage in celebrations, largely featuring good food and drink. They are possibly the smallest but most visible Indian minority. You will find a Parsi in every nook and corner of the world. This community has many luminaries, the “firsts” in diverse professions, and it is not possible to… Continue reading Remembering Parsi greats on Navroze
Parsi Vicissitudes: Of vision and hard work
Amongst the communities whose study has suffered an eclipse are the Parsis. The reason lies in the decline of business studies, but also in the decline of Parsis as a business community. Parsi enterprise played a significant part in the rise of modern Indian industry and services. By Ashok V. Desai | The Telegraph, India… Continue reading Parsi Vicissitudes: Of vision and hard work
