The spirited members of ZANZ (The Zarathustrian Association of New Zealand) have indeed kicked off 2023 amidst much revelry and camaraderie. Responding to the New Zealand Police and Auckland City Council’s call in mid-February, for greater involvement of communities celebrating Navruz, ZANZ alongside their Afghani, Iranian, and Kurdish brethren, organized ‘New Zealand’s Inaugural Multi-cultural Navruz Celebrations’ on 18^th March, 2023.

A Haft Sheen table was set up. Tehmus Mistry presented a talk on calendars followed by Zoroastrians, importance of Jamshedi Navroze and how it is celebrated by Parsi Zoroastrians. Godrej Engineer spoke about family values in the panel discussion. Some Parsi Zoroastrians came dressed in traditional Parsi saris and Daglis, too, proudly brandishing our traditional attire! Other members gave speeches, recited poems, played traditional musical instruments and performed traditional dances, contributing to the grand success of the event, with talks of making this an annual occasion.

On the auspicious occasion of Jamshedi Navroz, ZANZ organised a Jashan, which was attended by about 80 community members, at Nixon Park Hall, on 21^st March, 2023. A Jashan was performed at 4:30 pm, by Ervads: Viraf Fatakia, Jamsheed Tata, Khushroo Master, Aspi Billia, Navzad Chhor, Perzaan Mehta and Zariab Karkaria. It was streamlined online for the very first time for the convenience of those who couldn’t attend it in person.

Post this, Zaara Umrigar was awarded the ‘2023 ZANZ Scholarship’ by Benafsheh Spencer, a member of the ZANZ Scholarship Committee. Boxes packed with delicious sev, malido, ravo, fruits and nuts were given to all the attendees to take back home. ZANZ organisers thanked all the donors and volunteers for their support.

Close on the heals of the Jamshedi Navroze get together, on 25^th March, a Fundraising Gala was held by the youth (ZANZ Next Gen Congress Group) to collect funds to help subsidize their trip to the Youth Congress to be held in London, this July. It was an evening of entertainment galore for community members, beginning with a few rounds of bingo (Housie) followed by mesmerising dancing and singing performances by talented community members.

Tehmus Mistry was awarded the ‘ZANZ Patron Award’ for his outstanding contributions to the success of ZANZ and his services to the New Zealand’s Zarathushtrian community, by Roshni Daruwalla, President – ZANZ. Dinner comprised an array of delicious Parsi cuisine, following which DJ Behz (Behzad Mistry) had everyone dancing to a slew of favourite English and Bollywood classics. All in all, it was a special night indeed with a thankful shoutout to the donors, sponsors and the community for supporting the ZNG Congress Group in their fundraiser. You could also contribute towards the same via online donations at:

https://www.givingtohelp.org/index.php/frontend/donation/view_donation/31

ZANZ is now prepping for the oncoming fun event – ‘Antakshari’ in late April, to ensure the community continues to keep coming together regularly and bonding as the fun-loving and supportive Zoroastrians that we are known to be!