From Kashmere Gate to South Delhi, the city’s Parsi community marks 100 years of influence across the national...
History Articles
Parsis of Delhi: How the small community survived, thrived and made the Capital their home
The first set of Parsis, who started settling in Delhi in the 19th century, were mostly shopkeepers and traders....
Celebrating Parsi New Year
BY Rakshande Italia If I cherished one special day during the year, besides my birthday, it was the New Year – not Jan. 1, but a day in August when members of my tiny Zoroastrian community in...
Naqsh-E-Rustom In Danger Due to Railway Track Construction
Despite all oppositions made so far by Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) against construction of Isfahan-Shiraz railway only in 500-meter distance of Naqsh-e...
The Story of Polson Butter
It is a quirk of technology that occasionally, instead of advancing as usual, it gets stuck at a certain stage. The QWERTY keyboard is the best example, a layout of letters that made sense for a...
Conversation From Karachi
Talking to 80-year-old Dhanjishae H. Munderji, an occupant of the he Parsi general hospital, over a cup of tea, turned out to be quite an elucidating experience. Speaking on a host of issues, we...
Rolling in gold but still poverty-stricken
IN 1865, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata – a one-time opium trader and scion of a sparkling line of Parsee priests, Zoroastrians who had fled to western India from persecution in Iran –...
LAHORE LAHORE AYE: The Parsis of Lahore
As the sun is about to set, a group of pale tall men in spotless white can be found on the beach, the sacred Zorastrian belt knotted around their waists. They stand at the edge, bend down and...
Tehmulji Parsi Lying-In Hospital May be Demolished
Parsi maternity home on the block Tucked away in a quiet lane off D N Road is one of the city’s oldest infirmaries–the charmingly named Dr Tehmulji’s Parsi Lying-in hospital. Built...
A war is but a loser’s game
by Farrukh Dhondy I can’t remember which teacher it was who ventured to tell us about the Battle of Thermopylae all those years ago. Three hundred Spartans held the pass at the aforesaid place...
Bistoun Complex: Tourist Destination
Bistoun mountain with its world famous myths is annually visited by a great number of tourists from around the world at the beginning of spring. According to cultural heritage experts, the tablet of...
The Islamization of Europe
Excerpt from a longer article here Mary Boyce, Emeritus Professor of Iranian Studies at the University of London, has confirmed the external validity of Bat Ye’or’s analytical approach...
Persepolis Today
Two videos showing Persepolis today and a glimpse of the grandeur of what it was in its day.
Persepolis Recreated
An amazing video of Persepolis, completely recreated digitally.
The Persian king who is remembered every year
He was one of the most illustrious kings of ancient Iran (then called Persia) On 21st March, Parsis and Iranis the world over celebrate Jamshedi Navroze named after the Persian king Jamsheed of the...
Millions Needed for Iranian Archeological Sites
$3M. Budget Requested for Iran’s Archeological Salvation Projects Archeologists studying remains of a palace denoted to Achaemenid king Darius the Great, at Bolaghi Gorge Archeology Research...
Parsis to import, breed vultures
The Parsi tradition of cremation by keeping the bodies in the Tower of Silence to be devoured by vultures was under threat as birds of prey had gone almost extinct in Mumbai. The Bombay Parsi...
Tonight Iranian people will celebrate the ancient festival…
Tonight Iranian people will celebrate the ancient festival of fire or Chahar Shanbeh Soori in all Iranian cities. Chahar Shanbeh Soori, literally means Red Wednesday, is an ancient festival, dating...
Iran readying for New Year
From Tehran to Isfahan to Mashad to Shiraz, businesses, shops and government offices are getting ready to close as Iran sets out to celebrate the country’s New Year, called Nowruz. Iranians...
Persian king a barbarian: Parsis are not amused
Unknown to many, Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster of the year 300 , which has caused a major uproar in Shia Iran because of its depiction of a historical battle, denigrates a much-revered...
Warring over ‘300’
In a scathing attack on the producers of the movie 300, Maneck Bhujwala comments Barry Koltnow’s article, the “Mighty Spartans” [Entertainment, March 9]quotes comic-book artist...
The TATA Group
The Tata family has a tiny stake in Tata Sons, the holding company which owns the controlling stake in all the companies under the banner. Ratan Tata himself is said to own about one per cent stake...
A Forgotten Empire
What has the Persian Empire done for us lately? It is the arrogance of the present to imagine that all of human history reaches its culmination, and unveils what was all along its hidden purpose, in...
A Glimpse of Things to Come
Architect Jimmy Mistry’s daughter’s Navjote is the setting for the Parsi community’s vast and varied cultural heritage serving as a precursor to his May festival “The Parsi...
The Nation’s Consciencevala
Eminent jurist, outspoken critic, Nani A. Palkhivala devoted his life to upholding the Indian Constitution By T.R. Andhyarujina “God’s gift to India” is what C. Rajagopalachari...
Dwindling Numbers in India
Concerns for dwindling numbers. Seminars on how to save their race. In 1940, when their number in India was a sizeable 1.14 lakh, the community probably never imagined that 67 years later, it would...
Air Marshal Fali Homi Major is New IAF Chief
The Government today appointed Air Marshal Fali Homi Major, PVSM, AVSM, SC, VM, ADC, presently Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, as the next Chief of the Air Staff with effect...
The Israel Philaharmonic and Zubin Mehta
The NYTimes carries a piece on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Israel Philaharmonic. Zubin Mehta, the legendary Parsi Conductor is the Director for Life at the IPO. The current music...
Ancient religion may face extinction
This article appeared in the Boston Globe. I cannot seem to find the online direct link. However, read on… As screaming children raced around the hall in joyous play, adult workers readied...
Aden to India: Shifting of the Parsee Fire Temple
Shifting of the Parsee Fire Temple from Aden to India (Aden 1886 – 1976) The Flames of Faith: A Historical Saga by Pervez Daruwala Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly, Parsi New Year Special Published...
Fars Railway Path Changed
Transportation Ministry Obliged to Change Fars Railway Path One of the bas-reliefs of Naqsh-e Rostam, depicting Sassanid king Ardeshir I with defeated Roman emperors Valerian and Philip at his feet...
Ibad lauds role of Parsis in development
KARACHI: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad has said that the services rendered by Parsis in the development of Pakistan and particularly Karachi and their welfare work will never be forgotten. He was...
It’s a small but powerful community and Parsis…
It’s a small but powerful community and Parsis in Mumbai are joining hands to protect a 123-year-old community temple. Built by the Tatas, the agiary on Bandra’s Hill Road is under...
1400 people turn up to save Bandra Agiary
Parsis from Mumbai gather at agiary gates after SMS campaign Never underestimate the power of people. That’s what the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) discovered on Saturday morning. About...
Bandra Agiary Wall Demolition Stopped
BMC defers demolition at Bandra agiary As anger built up among residents and activists of Bandra (W) against the proposed widening of Hill Road, the civic administration on Friday called off its...
Tower of Silence gets clean chit
By Nauzar Bharucha Setting to rest the controversy over the Parsi Towers of Silence at Malabar Hill, the health department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which inspected the...
Bordi: A bit of Parsi Heritage
A bit of Parsi heritage near Mumbai. This week, we move west. I’ve lived in Mumbai long enough to have become an honorary Mumbaikar, and one of the privileges of this position is that I have...
Restoring the old world
At the ‘Community Museum’, there are plenty of things to catch your attention – rare photographs, antique porcelain vases, Gandhara sculptures and much more… The quaint Parsi...
Zubin, Freddie, Ratan: The Parsi conquests
When Ratan Tata made that big Diwali-eve announcement to pitch for India’s biggest overseas acquisition yet, he sent a unique cultural message with a trait so typical of his Parsi community....
Discovering some curiosities in Mumbai
Nearby is the Parsi Tower of Silence. Parsis follow the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. They believe in the purity of the four elements and are not allowed to bury or cremate their dead. Instead...
Tata: the Indian industrial giant with a core of steel
Tata Steel was set up in the teeth of racist scorn and the incredulity of many servants of the Raj Both groups are headed by Indians and both are hungry to take over non-Indian steel companies. But...
Muktaad
Ruby Lilaowala remembers Muktaad, in the Afternoon D.C. Muktaad are the ten days preceding the Parsi new year which are devoted to intense prayers and elaborate rituals for the departed souls...
Karan Bilimoria, first Parsi in House of Lords
India-born beer baron Karan Bilimoria will on Monday formally “take his seat” in the House of Lords, making him the first Parsi to enter the British Parliament’s upper house....
Zoroastrian MP proposes changing name of the month
Zoroastrian MP proposes changing name of the month of Mordad to Amordad TEHRAN, July 24 (MNA) On Saturday, MP Kurosh Niknam, who represents the Zoroastrian community in the Majlis, presented a...
Mumbai university set for anniversary
President APJ Abdul Kalam will unveil the 150th anniversary of Mumbai University, the oldest in the country. The University’s convocation hall just restored for the event is a stunning symbol...
Takht-e Rostam is pride of Karaj
Undoubtedly, the most ancient historical monument in Karaj, Tehran province, is Takht-e Rostam which dates back to the Sassanid Era (226-650 AD), reported the English-language newspaper Iran Daily....
Takht-e Soleiman boundaries marked
Islamic Republic News Agency – Tehran,Iran … The complex is the remnants of a fortress home to Zoroastrian priests during the Arsacid and Sassanid dynasties. It was destroyed during the...
‘Parsi Mecca’ Udvada on tourism map of State soon
UDVADA, a small town in Valsad district bordering the Union Territory of Daman is considered as the mecca of the Parsi community. The State Government is now set to develop it as a tourism centre...
Tomb and Prison of Cyrus the Great Eternalized
By preparing the map and holograms of the prison and tomb of Cyrus the Great, these two unique monuments will stay alive in the memory of history forever. Tehran, 22 June 2006 (CHN Foreign Desk)...
Apocalypse future: Through a glass, darkly
… She said Zoroaster was the first to teach about individual judgment, heaven and hell, the resurrection of the body, the last judgment, and life everlasting. … Continue reading here
Meet Malabar Hill’s senior-most citizen!
Trees are dust collectors, sound dampeners and homes for birds and animals… Incredible it may seem, but it’s true. In this concrete jungle of Mumbai, bang in the heart of South Mumbai,...
The Yellow Badge of Denial
The bizarre, humiliating, and enduring nature of the dress regulations imposed upon the Zoroastrian community of central Iran (Yezd) were captured in this eyewitness account by Napier Malcolm, (Five...