by Polly Noshir Chenoy My mother’s contention is: “British gayan ne’ opre vadhare British thai gayan” (We have become more British after the British have left). This, she attributes mostly to the fact that the Parsis; especially the younger generation speak no other language except English and have no knowledge of any Indian language. But… Continue reading Anglicisation Of The Parsis
Category: Heritage
Endangered vultures put Parsis in a fix
Hundreds of vultures once circled above a sacred area in one of India’s poshest suburbs, waiting to feed on the remains of followers of an ancient religion that does not allow its dead to be buried or burned. Older members of the small-but-prominent Zoroastrian Parsi community of Mumbai say it usually took only half an… Continue reading Endangered vultures put Parsis in a fix
The secret of embroidering a Parsi ‘gara’
The secret of embroidering a Parsi ‘gara’ is now being taught to those willing to learn, as a part of a five-day workshop at Khareghat Colony Parsi gara embroidery, which is a specialty of the Parsi community has long been appreciated by the fashion industry all over the country. History suggests that this beautiful silk… Continue reading The secret of embroidering a Parsi ‘gara’
Iranshah in 1909
This is a photograph of the Iranshah Atashbehram in Udwada, shot in 1909. The photograph is part of the National Geographic archives and was taken by William Thomas Fee. Image source here More info on Parsis from the same source can be found here
First Trip to India
We saw schools and hospitals established by the Parsis (Persians who follow the Zoroastrian faith and who migrated to India over a thousand years ago.) community. Continue reading here
Historic Kasra Arch
Preserving the historic Kasra Arch as a Persian heritage in danger and inscribing its name in UNESCO’s list of endangered heritage were discussed during the third conference of Iran’s History of Architectural Style and City Planning currently held in the city of Bam in Kerman province. The participants of this conference also called on immediate… Continue reading Historic Kasra Arch
Australian sculptor scraps Zarathushtra’s name
Move comes after protests by Parsi community against a nude scultpure named after the Prophet Mumbai Mirror Bureau The Australian Consul General in Mumbai has informed Mumbai’s Parsi-Zoroastrians that a controversial sculpture inaugurated in Sydney will not carry any reference to Prophet Zarathushtra. The Sculpture That “Was” called Zarathustra The four-feet tall bronze sculpture of… Continue reading Australian sculptor scraps Zarathushtra’s name
Chaiye Hame Zarthosti – The Parsi Anthem
Gujarati: English Translation: Chhaiye humay Zarthosti Re Mazdayasni nek Kul jehan sathe dosti- Rakhiye nibhavye tek. Mootthi bhar aa tolo Saoo no sangar. Re bol bala bolo Oh, saoo nur ne nar. CHORUS O tokham Kyani! O jug mashoor! O saoo sud goon ma sacchi ne bhurpoor! Kayem rahi jalavjo shoobh tooj no jom Abadi… Continue reading Chaiye Hame Zarthosti – The Parsi Anthem
Historic Association of Zarathushti Mobeds
by Roxan Aspi Driver in the Jam-e-Jamshed Jimmy Mistry has shown that he can accomplish what he sets out to. A man of action, and not just intention, barely a couple of months after the launch of his Parsi Resource Group, he brought together almost 350 mobeds at the inauguration of the Mobed’s Association, an… Continue reading Historic Association of Zarathushti Mobeds
