Statues make it to the news in Mumbai mostly when miscreants use them to stoke trouble in the city. At other times, they stand on busy road junctions or watch dusty playgrounds, derelict and often covered in bird guano. But for a group called the Bombay Parsi Association (BPA), the city’s statues are more than… Continue reading Making statues smile
Category: Heritage
The Tomb of Cyrus in Danger of Fungus and Lichen
What experts have warned and feared for the past few years about the humidity level at the world heritage site of Pasargadae after the inundation of Sivand dam, has now become a bitter reality as the humidity has risen to a dangerous level, and lichen funguses are growing over the body of the Cyrus the… Continue reading The Tomb of Cyrus in Danger of Fungus and Lichen
Khada Parsi may stand elsewhere
Away from the noise and pollution in Byculla, BMC plans to shift the century-old statue to Five Gardens The landmark Khada Parsi statue may find a new home at Five Gardens near Dadar. The statue now stands between two flyovers in Byculla.The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to shift the century-old statue of Shet Cursetjee… Continue reading Khada Parsi may stand elsewhere
One Last Creak
The vestibule of a middle-aged building at Princess Street creaks with the sounds of broken bones. It also sings with the prattle of restless patients. Who knew a Parsi bone-setter saw so much action. Even in this day of multi-syllabic specialisations and sleek machines, large numbers (old and young, modern and classic) with sprains, dislocations… Continue reading One Last Creak
New class at Stanford explores Zoroastrianism
New class explores ancient religion Popular faiths rooted in Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism, the world’s oldest revealed religion, is the focus of an introductory course this quarter taught by Visiting Prof. Jennifer Rose from the School of Religion at Claremont Graduate University. “Introduction to the Zoroastrian Religion,” organized by the Center for South Asia and a committee… Continue reading New class at Stanford explores Zoroastrianism
Iran Plans on Destroying Tomb of King Cyrus, Friend of the Jews
Iran is planning on submerging the tomb of King Cyrus (Coresh), the Persian King known for authorizing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Holy Temple. According to a report by Omedia, an Iranian organization is demanding that the International Criminal Court take action against those responsible. The Iranian ayatollahs are planning… Continue reading Iran Plans on Destroying Tomb of King Cyrus, Friend of the Jews
UP Parsis Have only One Mobed
The Parsi community is facing a unique problem. With only one Parsi priest left in the state, the community is facing difficulties in performing religious rituals. Such is the situation that now they have to depend on audio cassettes to perform various rituals. For the population of about 300 in the state, the community has… Continue reading UP Parsis Have only One Mobed