Khordad Saal Mubarak!

Dear Readers,

Before all else, on behalf of Team PT, I thank you for your very encouraging and positive feedback on PT’s Parsi New Year Special Issue. It is wonderful to see how many have resonated with our theme of ‘Compassion’ and we hope that the New Year will get to witness even more compassion, giving and kindness, in our hearts for those who may not be as fortunate as the rest of us.

Speaking of compassion and giving, here’s a shout-out to ZTFI (the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of India), one of the community’s foremost philanthropic institutions, for completing thirteen years in the service of our community. We wish ZTFI, its trailblazing Trustee – Yasmin Jal Mistry, and all its Trustees and volunteers the very best, to keep up the fabulous work they have been doing in supporting and uplifting the underprivileged, on multiple levels. It’s truly doing God’s work!

Which brings us to wishing all our readers and community members – Khordad Saal Mubarak! Did you know that this auspicious day (Roj Khordad, Mah Farvardin), which marks the birth of our glorious prophet – Zoroaster, also represents a number of other historical milestones relevant to Zoroastrians… It is on this day, that Ahura Mazda is said to have created the first couple in the world; that Shah Gayomard, the first king of ancient Iran, was born; and that our prophet, Asho Zarathushtra, received prophethood and religious revelation from Ahura Mazda, based on which we were blessed with our basic fundamentals of Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds.

Now what better way to worship and venerate our Prophet, than follow in His wisdom and His guidance that was bestowed on us, as Zoroastrians! May the 21^st of August (Khordad Saal) prove to be a constant reminder of how compassion and kindness for the less fortunate always stood out as one of Zoroaster’s foremost qualities… and no form of worship could be greater than following the path laid down by our most holy Prophet! After all, like the saying goes, ‘The hands that help, are holier than the lips that pray!’

Khordad Saal Mubarak!

– Anahita