A lively online classroom of 50 students, including a five-year-old boy -- who asked more curious questions than his...
Blog Articles
The Magi’s Reminder: The Work of Light Continues
Our friend Dr. Sousan Abadian, Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington shares her thoughts...
Kamran Dar e Mehr Opens in Washington D.C. USA
The birth of a new Dar-e-Mehr is a rare and momentous occasion. We were lucky to witness the inauguration of the newest Dar-e-Mehr in all of the Zoroastrian world on September 20th, 2014 in Boyds,...
Bombay Parsi Punchayet finds Rs 21 lakh, gold jewellery in late CEO’s cupboard
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) has found Rs 21.43 lakh and gold jewellery in a cupboard belonging to its late CEO, Mehli Colah. The discovery has set tongues wagging in the community as earlier...
The Buckingham Secret: Review
Writer-director Meherzad Patel's latest stage offering, The Buckingham Secret, couldn't have made its debut at a better time. After all, the British Royal Family is once again in the news, with...
Meherzad Patel: Celebrating the Parsi way of life via theatre
Through all its plays, Meherzad Patel's theatre company, Silly Point Productions, celebrates the Parsi way of life. As the company turns six, we look at its journey, and how Patel created a niche,...
Darius Pardiwala: Young Badminton Star
Today, even the under-10 category in badminton is not recreational. With the way Darius Pardiwala (Bombay Scottish) and Bhargav Chavan (Bhavan's Wadia) were guided throughout the final of the MSSA...
Why Delhi’s Parsis don’t want non-Parsi spouses in their cemetery
The community is likely to vote against a proposal to allow the husbands and wives of those who marry outside the faith to be buried in the Parsi graveyard. The Parsis – one of India’s smallest...
Meet the Women Fighting the Islamic State
MAKHMOUR, Iraq — Avesta enters the cramped room in a teachers' residence turned temporary military base, ready for a meeting with her fellow fighters. The six commandos rise to shake her hand. She...
Marzban Colony: Springing forth from history
The Marzban Colony in Agripada, south Mumbai, gets a new lease on life Article by Meher Mirza | DNA India The story of 'The Lal Chimney Compound' begins in the 19th century, with Mancherji Marzban,...
Ancient faith seeks good to balance the bad
Zoroastrianism puts the onus for morality on the individual Every morning, Farhad Mistry wraps a kastri, a small rope made up of 72 strings, around his waist like a belt while saying his morning...
Shahnameh, a Persian Masterpiece, Still Relevant Today
Long before HBO’s wildly popular Game of Thrones was created, Iranians turned to the national literary epic ‘Shahnameh” (The Book of Kings) for intriguing tales of knights, nobility and mystical...
Raise the curtains: The Buckingham Secret
This new play is a comedy on the secrets of Buckingham Palace Secrets will be revealed at the premiere of NCPA’s fifth production. The Buckingham Secret, set against the backdrop of Buckingham...
Lord Karan Bilimoria: An Pulling No Punches.
Lucy Tobin interviews Lord Bilimoria founder of Cobra Beer. He pulls no punches in this interview. The lager lord who is speaking up for Britain. Cobra’s Lord Bilimoria has strong views on running...
Zubin Mehta: In Conversation with the New York Times.
Zubin Mehta is an Indian-born conductor who has directed many of the world’s finest orchestras. He is the music director for life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the chief conductor of the...
Parsi Natak, Jivto Reh
After a long lull, Parsi-Gujarati theatre gets a shot in the arm with young talent from the community dishing out fresh stories, Bawa-flavoured. Article by Reema Gehi, Mumbai Mirror Last Saturday on...
The Story Behind Kaizad Hansotia and Gurkha Cigar Company
urkha Cigar Company is known around the world as one of the most luxurious brands of premium cigars. With many different blends and lines, there is a Gurkha cigar to fit almost any occasion and any...
Requiem For A Bird: Documentary on the Towers of Silence
Requiem for a Bird currently stands as a last chance to document the singular relationship of the Parsi and the vultures. The two have been linked through death for centuries, with the bodies of...
An Excerpt from the life of Dosebai Cowasjee Jessawalla
Old school English stands proud Article by Bhavani Krishna Iyer | The Sun Daily Malaysia THERE have been generous outpourings of all things women in the past weeks, among others, and I...
MLA seeks sop from Indian Prime Minister for Parsis to visit Iran
Member of legislative assembly, Mangal Prabhat Lodha has written a letter to prime minister, Narendra Modi asking for subsidy for Parsi community to help them visit their "place of origin". Lodha...
A candid chat with restaurateur Farrokh Khambata
He gave Mumbai its first taste of Oriental cuisine, especially the Burmese dish of Khow Suey. With Joss, his first restaurant at Kala Ghoda, finding a new home in the western suburbs last month,...
Sarosh Zaiwalla: the first non-white lawyer to start a practice in London
The head of a trail-blazing City law firm found that aiming high works Sarosh Zaiwalla has represented some of the most powerful people in the world, from members of the Gandhi family to the...
Well-known hotelier Jehangir Cama dies at 76
Leading hotelier Jehangir Cama, 76, passed away at a private hospital in Ahmedabad on Monday evening. Cama, chairman of Cama Group, was admitted to HCG Medisurge Hospitals at Mithakali for the past...
The Difference between- Shenshai, Kadmi and Fasli Zoroastrian Calendar.
We have received the below from our regular reader and good friend Pesho Kotwal. He received this as a forward. Pesho writes One notices from time to time that "we" do not have an accurate and...
Navroze low key for lone Parsi family in East Maharashtra
Chandrapur: Even as their community members celebrated 'Navroze' in Mumbai on Monday with fervour, the new year was not that boisterous for 'Gundevias', the only Parsi family residing in Chandrapur...
Power of Three: Parsis who shaped Modern Indian Art
An upcoming exhibition thrives on nostalgia, exploring the relationship between two gallerists and a collector who shaped the destiny of modern Indian greats. Passionate collector Jehangir Nicholson...
Sooni Taraporevala: 10 Tips For Screenwriters
DearCinema organized IndieTalk with renowned screenwriter Sooni Taraporevala on July 19 in Mumbai. This is what the writer of films like Salaam Bombay!, The Namesake and Mississippi Masala had to...
New documentary explores the Parsi community
Unique to India, there is no other community like the Parsis. Divya Cowasji and Shilpi Gulati, postgraduates from TISS and documentary filmmakers, get the community to share their most sacred spaces...
Dossabhai Oliaji: RIP
We are sad to inform the passing away of Dossabhai Oliaji one of the legends of Parsi Hospitality. Good friend and reader of Parsi Khabar Zarir Oomrigar informed us of this sad news. Image...
Who Are the Yezidis: Are they Zoroastrians ?
The article below is an edited and abridged version of the original article that apepared in the Deen Parast. We thank Soonu, good friend and regular reader of Parsi Khabar for editing the article....
Wadia Group: Two centuries and beyond
Perhaps India’s oldest conglomerate, the Wadia Group traces its roots back to at least 200 years before the country’s independence. The group’s journey from 1736 till date Article by P.R. Sanjai...
Godrej group: Unlocking entrepreneurship
The Godrej group’s journey, from making locks and safes to selling processed food and property under the third and fourth generations of owners Article by Madhura Karnik | Live Mint ...
Parsi New Year Celebrations in New Delhi and Hyderabad
Parsis in Delhi come together to ring in New Year There were 275 guests expected, with Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla as chief guest, and Rohinton Fali Nariman, newly appointed judge...
Administrator appointed by HC to safeguard estate of Purvez Dalal in Rs 200 crore dispute
Two sides-'heirs' and 'confidantes'-are in tussle over properties of Purvez Dalal, who died in 2011. In a dispute pertaining to two wills, both of which list properties worth around Rs 200 crore and...
All that Mawa drama
An age-old Parsi eatery announces that it’s going to shut down. Soon, media houses start speculating about the reasons and publish reams of stories glorifying the outlet and its rich history. In no...
Doongerwadi pallbearers threaten strike fearing non-payment of bonus
UPDATE: The article below appeared in the Mumbai Times on August 10. Further to that, as per an email communique, the issue has been resolved. BPP Chairman Dinshaw Mehta mentioned that two payments...
Ame Chhaiye Parsi: Traditional Music Comes Alive
Below is a write up sent by Parsi Khabar reader and well known community figure Marzban Giara. Let us welcome Yezdezerdi 1384 with a round of lilting music in our homes, colonies and baugs. AME...
Chinese excavations likely to redefine Zoroastrianism’s origin
Zoroastrianism was the state religion of the ancient Persian Empire. Its founder, Zoroaster, or Zarathustra, is thought to have been born in what is now Northeast Iran or Southwest Afghanistan. A...
Navroze Mubarak: Happy New Year 1384 Y.Z.
Dear Reader This year marks the start of 10th year of Parsi Khabar. What started as a very small idea on August 19th, 2005 has grown over a decade to become the premier source of online Parsi news...
Everyday Parsi: Shernaz Petigara
Our twelfth and final author in this year’s Everyday Parsi series Shernaz Petigara writes What do the Muktad days mean to me? When Parsi Khabar asked me to write on this topic, I just did not...
Everyday Parsi: Fareeza Doctor
Our eleventh author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Fareeza Doctor writes For much of my life, the onset of August has meant the start of preparations for Humbandagi, and Mukhtad prayers, and of...
Everyday Parsi: Behroze A. Clubwala
Our tenth author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Behroze A. Clubwala writes The Muktads – traditions in India and an adaptation over the years in my home. I grew up in Madras, known today as...
Everyday Parsi: Sanaya Pardiwalla
Our ninth author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Sanaya Pardiwalla writes As a Parsi, Muktad prayers have taken place in my family at different time points in my lifetime. I was under 3 years old...
Everyday Parsi: Ervad Jimmy Doctor
Our eighth author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Ervad Jimmy Doctor writes Ever since I can remember, history has been one of my favorite subjects. It is only through history that we can value...
Everyday Parsi: Rayomand J. Patell
Our seventh author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Rayomand J. Patell writes I grew up in a fairly small, liberal family at Altamount Road, which meant i didn’t have too many Parsi friends while...
Everyday Parsi: Kobad Zarolia
Our sixth author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Ervad Kobad Zarolia writes My impression more than memories would be the right title. I became Navar at the age of 11 and prayed as a hired Help at...
Everyday Parsi: Navroz N. Dabu
Our fifth author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Navroz N. Dabu writes I have to confess that as a Child; I was not too enthusiastic, going to the Agiari or Atash Behram. Stark simplicity...
Let’s honour ‘Sam Bahadur’ with the Bharat Ratna now
I can’t claim to know what the Prime Minister is thinking but if my hunch is correct I feel it would not be out of place to offer my personal advice. If he accepts what I’m about to propose he can...
Everyday Parsi: Neville Sorabji Gandhi
Our fourth author in the Everyday Parsi 2014Everyday Parsi 2014 series Neville Sorabji Gandhi writes My name is Neville Sorabji Gandhi. I was born and graduated in Mumbai. I am happily married to...
Qissa-e Parsi: The Parsi Story
A wonderful documentarty titled “Qissa-E-Parsi” is announced to the world with a lovely trailer. Divya Cowasji, co-director of the film writes: I am a documentary filmmaker and photographer based...
Everyday Parsi: Dolly Dastoor
Our third author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Dolly Dastoor writes Muktad, was the sweet fragrance l of pink roses which you had to hold carefully on your way to the agiary so as not to get...
Everyday Parsi: Farzana Cooper
Our second author in the Everyday Parsi 2014 series Farzana Cooper writes I grew up in a middle class Parsi family in Mumbai which had a mix atmosphere. My father was a jovial man who followed no...