Our country, our community and for that matter, the whole world seems to be in a state of turmoil! There is disharmony and chaos all over. How can we bring about healing? Different religions have distinct prayers and philosophies. Let’s look at some of these, including what our own Zoroastrian religion has to offer… St. […]
Author: Noshir H. Dadrawala
મુક્તાદ – આપણાં સ્વર્ગીય મહેમાનોનું સ્વાગત
આ વર્ષે પવિત્ર ફ્રવદેગન અથવા મુક્તાદના દિવસો 6 ઓગસ્ટના રોજ શરૂ થશે અને 15 ઓગસ્ટ 2023ના રોજ સમાપ્ત થશે. પારસી લોકો માને છે કે આ સમયગાળા દરમિયાન, ન્યાયી મૃતકોના ફ્રવશીઓ, તેમના આધ્યાત્મિક વિશ્ર્વમાંથી આ ભૌતિક વિશ્ર્વમાં આવે છે અને જેઓ તેમને યાદ કરે છે અને તેમના માટે પ્રાર્થના કરે છે તે બધાને આશીર્વાદ આપે છે. […]
Recreating Paradise On Earth
Almost every religious tradition observes a day or days for remembering their near and dear departed ones. They say grief is the last act of love we offer to those we loved, and that remembering them is akin to breathing life into their fading presence from our life. Most human beings by nature are ritualistic […]
Unknown facts about Iranshah
For Parsi Zoroastrians across India and even globally, the quiet and quaint village of Udwada is what Mecca is to the Muslims or the Vatican to the Christians. But, was Udwada always this quiet? Was the Holy Atash Bahram Fire, that was first consecrated at Sanjan and today housed in a grand heritage building at […]
Pioneering Persian Pursuits
Did you know that it was ancient Iran (Persia or Pars), under the Achaemenian kings, which, more than two and a half millennia ago, gave to this world its first Bill of Human Rights, the world’s first international highway, prototype to the Suez Canal, postal system and even the document that we know today as […]
In Harmony With The Spirit Of Mother Earth!
As per the Zoroastrian Shahenshahi calendar we are now observing the twelfth and last month of the year namely Aspandarmad / Spendarmad. In fact, tomorrow (Sunday, 16th July 2023) marks the Parab of Aspandarmad (Roj Aspandarmad, Mah Aspandarmad). Since this holy month is dedicated to Spenta Armaity – the Divinity that presides over Mother Earth, […]
Who Is A Parsi?
One is often confronted with the question – Who is a Parsi, and how and where was this term coined? What is one of the oldest references to this term? What is the legal definition of Parsi in India? Does Parsi include an Irani Zoroastrian? In this article, we answer some of these questions, mainly […]
Implication Of The Proposed Uniform Civil Code On Parsis In India
The twenty-second Law Commission of India (June 14, 2023) has sought the views of religious organisations and the public, on the issue of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). This is despite the twenty-first Law Commission of India (August 2018) making it clear in that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), “is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.” […]
બેહમન મહિનો – આપણા મનને બ્રહ્માંડ સાથે ટ્યુન કરવાનો સમય
સમુદાયે 12મી જૂન, 2023 ના રોજ ખૂબ જ ઉત્સાહ સાથે બેહમનના પવિત્ર મહિનાની શરૂઆત કરી. શાકાહારી આહાર તરફ વળવાનો આ વર્ષનો સમય છે. પરંતુ વધુ મહત્ત્વની બાબત એ છે કે વિચાર, શબ્દો અને કાર્યોમાં સંયમ રાખવો અને આ સૃષ્ટિના બુદ્ધિમાન સર્જક – વોહુમન અથવા અહુરા મઝદાના ગુડ માઇન્ડ તરીકે ઓળખાતા બેહમન સાથે આપણા મનને જોડવું […]
Zoroastrian Healing Prayers
Recently a Parsi Times reader, whose mother has been ailing, called to inquire about ‘Afshun-e-Shah Faridoon’. He also wanted to know the prayers which he and his mother could recite, to bring about healing. The Persian term, ‘Afshun’ or ‘Afsoon’, means a charm or a spell, which we more commonly refer to as Nirang, and […]
A Month To Attune With The Mind Of The Universe
The community ushered the holy month of Bahman on 12th June, 2023 with much enthusiasm. It’s the time of the year to enjoy Khichdi (rice cooked with ghee and lentils) along with Bafenu (ripe mango pickle), Khichdi paired with gor amli nu doru (sweet and tangy sauce made with tamarind and jaggery), makeover from butter […]