For a while now, the need for an English version of the Tamam Khordeh Avesta (ETKA), has been felt by the Parsi community in India and overseas. Over the past 150 years, while there have been several Tamām Khordeh Avestas in Gujarati, there was none in compiled in the Roman script, to date. Fulfilling this need, a new Tamām Khordeh Avesta for Shahenshahis, in English, prepared by Er. Dr. Ramiyar P. Karanjia, was launched on 21st March, 2024, at the Dadar parsi Colny Gymkhana.

This 512-paged Tamām (meaning complete) Khordeh Avesta, which took nearly ten years to be compiled, is a comprehensive prayer book, containing all daily prayers, including all the Yashts, five Gathas, the Setāyash, smaller prayers and lots of other relevant information.

Each prayer starts with a brief description about its contents and other relevant information, such as the benefits, reasons to pray, the when, how and where of praying it, and also provides a dedicated place to write the names of the departed, and other notes. The aim is to enhance the prayer experience and make it more fulfilling. Capital letters are used for proper nouns to enable the devotees to visualize the divine beings while praying, and instructions are provided within prayers in a red-coloured font.

The introduction contains a brief description of the philosophy, ethics and rituals of Zoroastrianism, as also a comprehensive overview of the Avestan language. In his learned foreword to the book, Dasturji Dr. Firoze M. Kotwal has expressed, “The community should show their gratitude,” to Dr. Zarthustra (Zar) Amrolia and his brother, Professor Persis, for sponsoring the publication of this book, in memory of their late parents – Jal and Armin Amrolia.

The limited edition, printed at Prodon Enterprise under the supervision of Jehangir Surti, has been made using special, acid-free paper (Buckram bindings), with a spectacular navy blue and gold cover, with gilded page edges.

Over half of the published books will be donated to fire temples in India and across the world. The rest will be sold at Rs. 700/-, and will be available at the Dadar Athornan Institute and select other places.