For thirteen years, the Zoroastrian Association of California (ZAC) has been a beacon of spiritual unity, thanks to the visionary leadership of Er. Zarrir Bhandara and his son, Er. Zerkxis Bhandara, alongside the former ZAC President Vira Santoke. In December 2011, ZAC started a weekly religious practice of Humbandagi with the belief: ‘The community that […]
Er. Zarrir Bhandara As we embark on the New Year 2025, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the profound teachings of Asho Zarthost Paigambar regarding a virtuous life. Zoroastrianism, at its core, emphasizes the harmonious interplay of Humata (good thoughts), Hukhta (good words), and Hvrashta (good deeds). This triad, beautifully encapsulated in the Persian […]
‘USHTA AHMAI YAHMAI USHTA KAHMAICHIT’ – Ushtavad Gatha, meaning, ‘HAPPINESS & PROSPERITY BE UNTO THAT PERSON THROUGH WHOM HAPPINESS REACH OTHERS!” “Ahura Mazda spoke unto Spitaman Zarathushtra: I created the holy immortal Khordad for Happiness and pleasure to help righteous men.” (Khordad Yasht 4.1) “O Ahura Mazda! May we become worthy of long life in […]
We have been told from an early age to “do Good” and practice Good thoughts, Good words and Good deeds. But, what really is ‘Good’? And, why do we have to do this so-called ‘Good’? In our Zoroastrian religion, we are told to practice ‘Humata, Hukhta and Hvrasta’; even our Ashem Vohu prayer says, “Doing […]
The Zoroastrian Association of California (ZAC) celebrated the 7th salgreh of its holy Atashkadeh with great religious fervor and Parsi gusto on 12th November, 2023. The preparations started a day earlier with deep-cleaning of the premises by volunteers Vira and Burjor Santoke, Dhun and Ketty Alamshaw, Jimmy Colabewala, Firoze Avari, Xerxes, Zane and Zara Commissariat, […]
On 28th April, 2022, the Los Angeles Consular Corps held its first-ever Ramadan Interfaith Iftar, bringing together LA’s Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Baháʼí, and Zoroastrian faith leaders. Homi Gandhi Past President of FEZANA and Er. Zarrir Bhandara, who heads ZAC (Zoroastrian Association of California) Atash kadeh, represented the Zoroastrian faith at the Interfaith/Multicultural Iftar […]
3Did you know all our revered Atash Behram fires are made up of 16 different fires? Yes, fires from 16 different sources – including the fire from lightning (the highest source) and a fire from cremation (the lowest source) – are collected. They are then purified and consecrated with an elaborate process, by about 1000 […]
The Zoroastrian Association of California (ZAC) celebrated the auspicious Farvardin Parabh on 3rd September, 2020, with a Farokshi and a Jashan, accompanied by a brief talk on the significance of this day. At 5:30 pm, a Hama Asho Farohar Jashan was performed by the famous and much loved father-son duo – Er. Zarrir and Er. […]
On 25th November, 2019, Er. Arda-E-Viraf Minocherhomjee, President – North American Mobeds Council (NAMC), and Er. Zarrir Bhandara joined Homi D Gandhi, President – FEZANA, at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Religion and Foreign Policy (RFP) Program, at the luncheon discussion on ‘Religion and Foreign Policy: Bridging the Divide during the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting’, at […]
On 2nd November, 2019, an inspirational Religious Seminar – ‘From A Mobed’s Heart To Mobeds’ Hearts’ – featuring Ervad Zarrir Bhandara, was held at the Ripon Club in Mumbai, at 11:00 am. This event was attended by over 20 mobeds, including the ex-Principal of Cama Athornan Madressa, Er. Kersi Karanjia, alongside Chief Guest – BPP […]