Jashan-e Abanegan or simply Abanegan is an ancient Iranian festival held to commemorate water as nature’s most precious treasure, and pay tribute to Anahita, the deity assigned to water, fertility and prosperity. In ancient Iran, water – the element of life, was considered very sacred and the people believed they should never pollute water – […]
Zoroastrians seem to have adopted the Fravahar or Farohar (often pre-fixed with the term Asho which means pure) as a symbol of the Zoroastrian religion. However, is it really a Zoroastrian religious symbol? What does it represent? What is the origin of this symbol? These and several other questions require deeper introspection. Is it […]
On 26th November, 2022, Roj Tir coincides with Mah Tir as per the Shahenshahi calendar, marking the Parab or festival of Tiragan, one of the three most widely celebrated seasonal festivals of ancient Iran, mentioned even in the Jewish Talmud. While Navruz (Mah Fravardin, Roj Hormuzd) celebrates renewed life and the warmth of spring after […]
Today, 15th October, 2022 (Roj Hormazd, Mah Khordad) and 20th October will be the parab of Khordad (Roj Khordad, Mah Khordad) according to the Shehenshahi Calendar. Khordad is the third month of the Zoroastrian calendar and it brings blessings of purity and perfection. Khordad (Avesta Haurvatat) is not only an Amesha Spenta presiding over the purifying waters, it also embodies […]
Recently, I met a Parsi who gleefully said, “the advent of the Saviour is very near!” Nonchalantly, I told him that I have been hearing that since the last forty years. Yet, out of curiosity, I asked what made him think the time now is near. “Look at what’s happening all around the world, the […]
1st October, 2022 – Roj-Sarosh, Mah-Ardibehesht – is an extremely auspicious day as it marks the Salgreh of a number of our Atashbehrams and Agiaries, including the 193rd Salgreh of Pak Wadiaji Aatash Behram (Princess Street, Mumbai); the 201st Salgreh of Pak Mody, Shahenshahi Aatash Behram (Shahpore, Surat) and the 258th Salgreh of Pak Desai […]
There are numerous words in Avestan and Pazand, for example: ‘Yazamaide’, which mean, I revere / I show my reverence and I also attune/ or connect myself with the divinity that I worship. Another Pazand word is ‘Hamazor / Hamazori / Hama Asho Bad / Hama Asho Bed’, means ‘I connect with you in righteousness’; […]
Today, Saturday, 17th September 2022 is Roj Ardibehesht of Mah Ardibehesht, or what we call the Parab (festival) of Ardibehesht. Ardibehesht is the second month and the third day of every month in the Zoroastrian calendar. It is a day of utmost significance since Ardibehesht is Ahura Mazda’s Divine attribute of Truth, Divine Order and Healing. […]
On 9th September, 2022, thousands of devotees came out of their homes to bid farewell to their favourite deity, Ganpati or Ganesha. The hugely celebrated ten-day-long Ganeshotsav has concluded, but the usual sentiment of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lvkar Ya’, meaning ‘O Lord Ganpati, come again early next year!’ continues to linger. Lord Ganesha is […]
4th September, 2022 (Roj Behram, Mah Farvardin) marks the death anniversary of our most revered, loved and worshipped saint, Jamshedji Sohrabji Kukadaru Saheb. Known as the ‘Zarthosti Saint’ of the 19th Century, Dasturji Kukadaru was born on 26th May, 1831 in Surat, Gujarat, and is as well known for his humility and simplicity as he is worshipped for his piousness […]
Today, (Mah – Fravardin; Roj – Fravardin) marks the Parab of Fravardin – the day on which the Roj (day) and Mah (month) coincide. On this blessed day, we remember the Fravashi of our dear departed with devotion either from our home, a local Agyari or at the place where their mortal remains are consigned. […]