According to the Shahanshahi Zoroastrian calendar, the Holy month of Dae commenced on 12th May. Observed as a month of thanksgiving to Ahura Mazda, during Mah Dae Zoroastrians acknowledge the many blessings more ceremonially. This month also fosters a sense of community and reinforces well-being via numerous Jashan ceremonies performed at home, offices, baugs or […]
In Iran, the third century AD was a period of religious revival and consolidation of the Zoroastrian faith, where Sasanian rulers officially embraced Zoroastrianism as the state religion, actively promoting its practices and beliefs. Earlier, post Alexander’s invasion and the fall of the mighty Achaemenian Empire, the Zoroastrian religion suffered a setback. The Greeks tried to […]
The Achaemenid Empire, also known as the Persian Empire was the first of its kind in history. It was the first ‘world empire’ founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. It ended in 330 BC with the defeat of Darius III by Alexander of Macedonia. Over a span of 230 years, the Achaemenid empire […]
In India, the sacred fires of our consecrated Agyari and Atash Bahram are kept burning perpetually by periodically offering kathi or the slow-burning firewood of the Babool (Acacia nilotica) tree, which has low water content. Sandalwood is quick burning and used more as a fragrant offering to the Holy Fire. The Rakhya or ash of […]
12th April, 2025 (today), is the first day (Roj Hormuzd) of the ninth month (Mah) of Adar as per the Shahenshahi Zoroastrian calendar. Adar is the Divinity that presides over fire. As per the Fasal or seasonal calendar, the month of Adar begins around mid-November and is celebrated right up to mid-December, when it’s cold in […]
In quiet moments, when the world is still, The soul unfolds, a gentle grace, A tapestry of dreams, a vibrant thrill, A smile upon the soul’s own face. So let the shadows softly fade, And embrace the light within, The soul’s own journey, unafraid, A beautiful, eternal win. Most religions believe the soul is […]
Over the course of a recent discussion, a friend argued upon why our community should be praying in a language (Avesta and Pazand) that we do not understand. I reckoned there are many who could feel the same way, and hence this article… Multi-sensory Experience To begin with, how do so many of us enjoy […]
We have just celebrated the spring festival of Navruz and commenced Nature’s New Year as per the Fasal or Seasonal Calendar, on 21st March. However, as per the Shahanshahi (Royal) calendar, today (22nd March 2025) is Roj Ava of Mah Ava or the sacred Parab of the water Divinity which according to the Fasal calendar […]
The Spring Equinox, as observed in the Northern hemisphere, is the time when the sun crosses the celestial equator (an imaginary line in the sky above Earth’s equator). This phenomenon happens every year on March 19, 20, or 21. Usually, Zoroastrians celebrate the first day of spring on 21st March. However, this year this ancient Iranian spring […]
Each year, 8th March (today) is celebrated as International Women’s Day (IWD) – a day when women are recognized for their varied achievements. Spurred by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD originated from labour movements in Europe and North America during the early twentieth century, with March 8 declared by Vladimir Lenin to honour the […]
Herodotus (484 - 425 BC) was an ancient Greek writer, geographer, and historian born in the Greek city of Halicarnassus which was part of the Persian Empire (now Bodrum in Turkey). He wrote ‘The Histories’ which is a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars. Herodotus was the first writer to do systematic investigation of historical events […]