It’s hard to imagine that Bombay (now Mumbai) once came to a screeching halt over stray dogs. Almost 200 years ago, this city shut shop, marched in the streets, and very nearly brought the East India Company to its knees. All because the administration tried to mess with the city’s stray dogs. Article by Rishad… Continue reading The day Parsis shut Bombay down over stray dogs
News and Updates
Parsi New Year 2025: Blithe spirits and Navroze naataks
Remembering dramatist and columnist extraordinaire Dorab Mehta (1917-2005) who entertained theatre audiences and newspaper readers A dated photograph of Dorab (left) and Homai Mehta Article by Meher Marfatia | Mid-Day When I write I also laugh,” he declared. Dorab Mehta secretly scribbled his first skit at 14, in his math book at Proprietary High School.… Continue reading Parsi New Year 2025: Blithe spirits and Navroze naataks
Navroze Mubarak 2025: Happy New Year 1395 Y.Z.
Today marks the start of the Shehenshai New Year, when Parsi Zarathushtis all over the world welcome the “Navu Varas.” Over the past 10 days of Muktad and Gatha, we brought you along on a journey of tradition, nostalgia, and the value of continued customs—traditions that transcend just prayers and become celebrations not only of… Continue reading Navroze Mubarak 2025: Happy New Year 1395 Y.Z.
Everyday Parsi: Xerxes Commissariat
Today is the Vahishtoishti Gatha, the fifth and final Gatha day of this year’s muktad. And in the 2025 Everyday Parsi series we feature our eleventh and final author Xerxes Commissariat. The ten days of Muktad prayers are, to me, a time of deep reverence — when the community gathers to honor the Fravashis of… Continue reading Everyday Parsi: Xerxes Commissariat
Everyday Parsi: Persis Driver
Today is the Vahishtoishti Gatha, the fifth and final Gatha day of this year’s muktad. And in the 2025 Everyday Parsi series we feature our tenth author Dr. Persis Driver. Flickering Memories of Fearless Women In my fast-paced, often chaotic life, Muktad days are when time holds still; they are a kind of placeholder on… Continue reading Everyday Parsi: Persis Driver
Everyday Parsi: Arnavaz Sethna
Today is the Vohuxshathra Gatha, the fourth Gatha day of this year’s muktad. And in the 2025 Everyday Parsi series we feature our ninth author Arnavaz Sethna. My Memories of Muktad in Karachi Growing up in Karachi in an Athornan family, Muktad days were special to me. Until I was 7 years old, Muktad only… Continue reading Everyday Parsi: Arnavaz Sethna
Everyday Parsi: Roshan Rivetna
Today is the Spentamainyu Gatha, the third Gatha day of this year’s muktad. And in the 2025 Everyday Parsi series we feature our eighth author Roshan Rivetna. Muktad Memories – From Mumbai (Bombay) to Chicago Early Days in Mumbai My early days, growing up in Bombay (Mumbai), were spent between my Bapaiji’s flat on Gowalia… Continue reading Everyday Parsi: Roshan Rivetna
Everyday Parsi: Mahtab Dastur
Today is the Ushtavaiti Gatha, the second Gatha day of this year’s muktad. And in the 2025 Everyday Parsi series we feature our seventh author Mahtab Dastur. The Muktad times have always been a time of prayer and remembrance. When we were younger, we would go to Mumbai every August for Muktad. Every morning we… Continue reading Everyday Parsi: Mahtab Dastur
Everyday Parsi: Ervad Adil Mithaiwala
Today is Ahunavaiti Gatha, the first Gatha Day of this year’s muktad. And in the 2025 Everyday Parsi series we feature our sixth author Ervad Adil Mithaiwala In the Presence of Fravashis: My Muktad Journey By Ervad Adil Mithaiwala It begins with a bell. A quiet Agiary at dawn. The air is heavy with sandalwood.… Continue reading Everyday Parsi: Ervad Adil Mithaiwala
