Parsi and Irani Zoroastrians are ethnically of Persian (Iranian) origin. Parsis who came to India about 300 years after the fall of the Sasanian Empire (around 10th Century AD) trace their ancestry back to the province of Khorasan, known in ancient times as Parthia. While Parsis appear to have moved to India, our Irani Zoroastrians […]
One is often confronted with the question – Who is a Parsi, and how and where was this term coined? What is one of the oldest references to this term? What is the legal definition of Parsi in India? Does Parsi include an Irani Zoroastrian? In this article, we answer some of these questions, mainly […]
The Holy Fravardegan or Muktad days this year will commence on 6th August and end on 15th August 2022. Zoroastrians believe that during this period, the fravashis of the righteous dead, come down from their spiritual world into this material world and bless all those who remember and pray for them. These last ten days of the […]
The F N Patel Agyari, located at Mazagaon (Mumbai), was recently renovated, thanks to generous contributions from various devotees and donors, including those overseas. A celebratory Jashan was performed on February 20, 2021 (Adar Roj – Meher Mah) in the morning. Trustees of the Agyari, as also former trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), […]
. 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 […]
“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin The death of a near or dear one is always very painful. If the person dies relatively young or passes away suddenly, the shock is even greater. If the person […]
The Holy month of Adar will soon end and the Holy month of Dae will commence. Many devout Zoroastrians are disappointed because they could not pray before Iranshah in Udwada or even at their neighbourhood Agyari or Atash Bahram during the month of Adar, which is dedicated to the divinity that presides over fire. However, […]
The year 2020 will soon be upon us and we can choose to welcome it with our usual Veil of Vanity or a Vision of Value. ‘20-20 vision’ is a term used by ophthalmologists to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. Do we, as […]
Diwali is the five-day festival of light, celebrated by millions across the world. The festival coincides with the Hindu New Year and thus also celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Diwali also commemorates Lakshmi, the Divinity of wealth and prosperity. Five Days of Festivity: The five days […]
ખોરદાદ સાલના પ્રસંગે તમારી સામે આપણા તેજસ્વી જરથુસ્ત્ર પયગમ્બર સાહેબના જીવનની અને ભણતરની એક વિશિષ્ટ ઝાંખી રજૂ કરી રહ્યા છે.‘પ્રોફેટ’ માટેનો ફારસી શબ્દ પેગમ્બર અથવા વક્ષશુર છે (પહલવી શબ્દ વક્શવરના શબ્દ પરથી ઉતરી આવ્યો છે જેનો અર્થ થાય છે) ‘ભગવાનના શબ્દોનું વહન કરનાર’. આપણે જીભથી પવિત્ર મંત્રોનું ઉચ્ચારણ કરીએ છીએ એટલે જીભ દ્વારા ભગવાન તરફથી […]
Asho Zarathushtra is universally regarded as the First Prophet. He was the first to receive Ahura Mazda’s message and yet, there is so little, we, his followers who call ourselves Zoroastrian or Zarathushti know about him. Quite often, we don’t even spell or pronounce his name correctly. Many do not know the names of his […]