The festivals of India are rich, varied and colourful! However, the festival of Holi is perhaps the most colourful, both literally and figuratively. Dancing and clowning around after intake of bhang and smearing loved ones, and often even the not-so-loved ones, with varied hues, celebrates warmth, friendship and putting aside old differences. However, the more […]
. The status of a woman in Zoroastrian society has always been highly emancipated and elevated. In fact, a fundamental precept of the Zoroastrian religion is gender parity or equality. Men and women are treated as equal and our history is replete with examples of women who were trained like men to ride a horse […]
In the Zoroastrian Calendar the year comprises twelve Mah (months) with each month aggregating exactly thirty Roj (days) and thus a year of three hundred and sixty days to which are added the stand-alone five days of the Gatha which are not linked to any particular month. The fifteenth day every month is dedicated to […]
Love knows no reasons, love knows no lies. Love defies all reasons, love has no eyes. But, LOVE IS NOT BLIND, LOVE SEES, BUT DOESN’T MIND! What do we associate 14th February with? Flowers, candy, cute cuddly teddy bears, red hearts, candle-lit dinners and romance. Isn’t that what Valentine’s day is generally all about? Well, […]
Aderbad Bin (son of) Mahrespand was the Mobedan Mobed (Supreme Pontiff) and Prime Minister during the long reign (309-379 A. D.) of Shapur Hormazd also known as Shapur II. According to the Pahlavi Dinkard, from his father’s side, Aderbad Mahrespand belonged to the family of Zarathushtra, and from his mother’s to the family of Shah […]
Christmas is here and it’s the season of joy and giving, and the story of the nativity and the probable Zoroastrian connection with the same. The Gospel of Matthew, the only one of the four Canonical Gospels to mention the ‘Magi’, states that they came “from the east” to pay respect to the one, “born […]
Sanjan is a place of religious and historic importance to Parsis. Contrary to popular belief, this was not the place where the Parsis first landed after leaving Iran. However, this is indeed the place where the very first Atash Behram (Iranshah) was consecrated. It is believed that several families, men and women, took off […]
Parsis as a community love to celebrate. Not just their own feasts and festivals, even Diwali and Christmas are celebrated with equal gusto. However, often in our enthusiasm, we unknowingly violate certain fundamental precepts of our religion. For example, the misuse of firecrackers during the festival of Diwali. Not only are firecrackers a source of […]
Some of us believe that prayers and rituals are not in accord with the spirit and message of the Gathas. Their emphasis is only on ‘rational thought’ and the simplistic notion of “good thoughts, good words and good deeds”. Agreed, the religion of Asho Zarathushtra is not based on blind faith, superstition or fear of […]
He was a Saint who led a Simple life – A Priest but not Pedantic – An Alchemist but he never abused the knowledge or power he was blessed with – An Astrologer but not prone to Alibi – A Healer with a Heart of gold…. Dasturji Jamshed Sohrab Kukadaru was born in Surat on […]
Zoroastrians observe Khordad Roj of Fravardin Mah as Khordad Saal. This is the sixth day of the first month of the Zoroastrian calendar. Each of the 30 days of the month, as also each of the 12 months of the Zoroastrian calendar, is dedicated to an Amesha Spenta (Bounteous Immortal) or a Yazata (Adorable Spiritual […]