Mobed Mehraban Pouladi, President of Council of Iranian Mobeds, on his first official voyage to India, visited the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman (IZA) office in Fort, Mumbai, on 22^nd December, 2024, amidst several IZA trustees and Irani Zoroastrian community members, at the IZA office. President of IZA, Khodaram Irani (WIBS Bakery), welcomed and introduced Mobed Pouladi, sharing the history of IZA, which will celebrate its centennial year, being established in 1925. “The IZA has in the past gifted various lands and properties in Iran to the Anjuman there and one of our founder members, Pestonji Marker, established and donated several institutes to the community in Iran,” he said.

Mobed Pouladi addressed the gathering in Persian, translated by Professor Saloumeh Gholami – British Academy Global Professor in the field of Zoroastrian Studies at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge. Invoking the blessings of Zarathustra on everyone present, Mobed Pouladi shared, “I bring the warmest greetings from your homeland Iran, the birthplace of Asho Zarthost. I invite all of you to Iran. I’m very thankful to this Anjuman because it has historically helped Iranian Zoroastrians in the past. I hope that all of us, irrespective of where we live, will be united and work together for the welfare of the community.”

Speaking to Parsi Times, Mobed Pouladi said, that “It was a great honour for me to be here and visit the Zoroastrian holy sites in India and meet the community. We were in Udvada and Navsari for a few days and met the high priests there.” When asked if the Zoroastrian community in Iran also faced similar issues of dwindling numbers and interfaith marriages, he said, “There are many similarities between Indian and Iranian Zoroastrians, and a few differences as well. The challenges we face in Iran include an acute shortage of Mobeds. Also, migration of community members to other countries is a big problem in Iran. But fortunately, we do not have the challenge of marrying outside of the community as we are very strict there and the Mobed council does not recognize any marriage outside of the religion.”

“Some rituals and practices have become extinct and haven’t been performed in Iran for several years now, like the Nirangdin and Vandidad ceremonies. Also, the Dokhmenashini system of funerals has been discontinued and the dead are buried with the congregation attending the funeral being advised not to gaze on the face of the deceased,” he added. He shared how the community enjoyed great respect in Iran and the freedom minorities are given to practice their religion, celebrate all festivals and perform navjote and marriage ceremonies. (The navjote ceremony in Iran is called Sedreh-Pushi) Mobed Pouladi informed us, “Last year, 120 children had their Sedreh-Pushi and for the next year, 170 children have been registered.”

He praised the founder members of the IZA and expressed gratitude about how they supported the Zoroastrians community in Iran, even establishing a small hospital there. “It was the support of these great men from the IZA here which has helped the community thrive in Iran,” he said.

Khodaram Irani felicitated both the guests, presenting them with a token of appreciation. Mobed Pouladi then continued to the N M Petit Fasli Agiary where he conducted a Jashan along with other priests, which was well-attended by community members. Mobed Pouladi’s aim is to foster greater ‘collaboration’ between the Zoroastrian communities of India and Iran and we pray that this initial visit will pave the way for future successful initiatives and cooperation within the community.