Continuing its 25-year long tradition of hosting annual seminars, the World Zoroastrian Organisation (Feltham, London), hosted an annual seminar, on 2^nd June, 2024, bringing together Zoroastrian speakers to share their expertise, with the aim of educate the community about lesser-known aspects of Zoroastrian culture and philosophy, and welcoming those who share an interest in the same. This year the expert speakers included Dr. Mehrbod Khanizadeh from SOAS, along with Oxford University Professors – Michael Shenkar and Christian Sahner.

Dr. Khanizadeh spoke about the complexity of Iranian Pahlavi Yasna manuscripts, which combine the Avestan version of the Yasna with its Pahlavi translation-cum-commentary and with ritual instructions. He talked about the origin of this class of manuscripts and emphasized the need for meticulous attention to small but significant details for the bigger picture to be constructed.

Prof. Shenkar offered insight into the various religions found in ‘Sogdiana’ a place based on the archaeological finds and art of the region which corresponds roughly to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. He pointed out the possibility of Zoroastrianism being evidently a major religion here, upholding his theory with the recent discovery of wall frescoes in excavations led by his team

The text which inspired the recent publication by Prof. Sahner was the late Pahalvi text of Shkand Gumanik Wizir, which tried to support Zoroastrianism in the face of Islamic criticism and also from Christianity. He shared how the Sassanian and post Sassanian interpretation were a result of the re-invention of the religion which brought in as influences from the Vendidad and lost sight of the overarching presence of Ahura Mazda over the twin energies of Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu.

The talks were delivered with clarity and illustrations, followed by an interactive session with the rapt audience, asking a range of questions. A token of appreciation was then presented to each speaker. The seminar was well attended with visitors also from the Young Leaders Programme at the Asha Centre, concluding with a snack-lunch for all. Next year’s annual seminar has been provisionally slated for 8^th June, 2025.