Govad Yazata is the Zoroastrian Divinity who presides over wind and air. The name Go-vad (good wind) is the altered form of Vaad or Vaat which means wind. In Pahlavi texts, Govad is called Wae-i-Weh, meaning ‘the good wind,’ interpreted as a gentle breeze that is beneficial to life, rather than a destructive storm. There […]
Sunday, 5th April, 2026 is ‘Easter’ or ‘Resurrection Sunday’, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on the third day of his burial, after his crucifixion by the Romans, at Calvary in 30 AD. The traditional narrative of the Resurrection provides hope and strength, encouraging individuals to rise above adversity and live in a […]
A Parsi Times reader recently asked whether the Vendidad is a philosophical poem like the Gatha or prose enshrining an ancient ‘Zoroastrian Penal Code?’ He also wanted to know if it was simply a textual commentary or a sacred religious ritual? Finally, he was curious about why it is performed after midnight and considered as […]
Recent archaeological discoveries in northern Iraq have brought renewed attention to the inclusive and tolerant ethos of Zoroastrianism. Researchers have uncovered the remains of a 1,500-year-old Christian church located at the Gird-î Kazhaw site, in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, only a short distance from a Sasanian-era Zoroastrian place of worship. The findings reaffirm that followers of […]
Er. Zarrir Bhandara shares timeless nuggets of wisdom from our Zoroastrian religion, exploring its spiritual insights, ethical teachings and relevance in today’s world. Whether drawn from the Gathas, sacred traditions, or the lived experiences of the Zoroastrian community, each piece of wisdom serves as a guiding light in the journey of life, continuing to inspire […]
A young reader of Parsi Times recently expressed concern as to why a woman in her menses is considered ‘unclean’ and is required to abstain from visiting places of religious worship? She wondered whether this was another custom our Parsi forebears adopted in India, and whether it reflected gender discrimination within the community. To begin […]
Can science, which seeks evidence, and religion, which needs faith, find compatibility? Should we treat science and religion as mutually exclusive or complimentary to each other, more so because science deals with the head (mind) while religion deals with the heart (emotion?) In life, as we all know, striking the balance of head and heart […]
Er. Zarrir Bhandara shares timeless nuggets of wisdom from our Zoroastrian religion, exploring its spiritual insights, ethical teachings and relevance in today’s world. Whether drawn from the Gathas, sacred traditions, or the lived experiences of the Zoroastrian community, each piece of wisdom serves as a guiding light in the journey of life, continuing to inspire […]
From a spiritual perspective, the 24-hour day is tied to the cyclical nature of energy and consciousness. In Zoroastrianism, each day is divided into five Gah or Geh, each spanning over a period of four to five hours. The first two – Ushahin Geh and Havan Geh are longer since most rituals and religious ceremonies are […]
Dear Readers, ‘Cyrus the Great Day’ will be celebrated on 29th October, 2025. Let us pause to honour this visionary leader, who built one of the world’s most remarkable empires and whose leadership reflected the noblest ideals of our faith. Cyrus the Great was guided by the essence of Asha – truth, righteousness and justice […]
A Parsi Times reader recently shared a picture of some currency notes with Zarathushtra’s image, purported to be the currency of Kurdistan. He inquired whether this was real and if all Kurds were officially Zoroastrian. Our response was Kurdistan isn’t a country or a sovereign state, but a geographic region in Iraq and the currency of Iraq is the […]