ZAC Performs Behram Yazad Victory Jashan

The much anticipated Behram Yazad Jashan of Victory was performed at the Zoroastrian Association of California’s (ZAC) Atashkadeh/Agiary  on Behram Roj, 1st June, 2021, to thank Behram Yazad for granting some reprieve over the pandemic in India. About 450 Parsi / Irani Zarthostis participated in the Jashan from all over the world – Australia, Canada, England, Singapore, South Africa and USA and of course, a large number of participants from all across India and not just Mumbai and Gujarat. The Jashan was performed by Ervads Zarrir and Zerkxis Bhandara.

After the prayers, Er. Zerkxis led the congregation in a Humbandagi creating and spreading the much-needed collective consciousness of positive vibrations. “Due to the collective devotional consciousness, we have seen a drop in new cases and mortality rate; With the powerful collective vibrations of our prayers we conquered this to a great extent With the blessings of Dadar Ahuramazda, Amesha Spentas, Yazatas, and Fravashis. People are healing and those who went through the irreparable loss of losing their loved ones, are slowly returning to their normal lives with acceptance,” said Er. Zarrir Bhandara. He further thanked the ZAC committee for organizing the Jashan as also the community for participating, and blessed the participants with continued good health and long life. 

Before reading Dasturji Dr. Firoze M. Kotwal’s message to the assembled global Zarthostis, he paid a glowing tribute to Dasturji Kotwal, the High Priest of HB Wadia Atash Bahram, who was also his religious teacher and mentor. He lauded Dasturji Kotwal, as “a living legend, reservoir of religious knowledge and a Yozdathregar Mobed himself, who is a well-respected figure in our community and in Universities all over the world. He is a religious scholar and senior-most high-priest of our community who has dedicated his whole life in promoting Zoroastrian studies.”

Dasturji Dr. Kotwal’s message to the Worldwide Zarthoshty Community: On this auspicious day of Māh Dae Rūz Bahram,  the great Zoroastrian month when  Gahambars are celebrated by Zarthoshti communities living in all parts of the world, may Ardibehesht Amashsaspand the Yazata that heals all who are sick and “who amongst all the physicians he indeed is the best healer – aeshō zī asti baēshazanām baēshazyōtemō – may he smite and vanquish this disease that has presently afflicted our small community and the world. May the Jashan ceremony performed by our mobed sahebs re-establish harmony, goodness and order in our world. 

For the Parsi Irani Zarthoshty community to flourish and prosper there are three principles that should be held high in our hearts and minds. The first is āgāhī which is religious knowledge, the second is āstwānī, that is to have true unflinching faith in our religion and the third is nēkī – that is living an ethical life of goodness and virtue. May the community always seek the path of enlightenment and may you always seek knowledge about the religion. May you find the strength to preserve our ancient traditions, practices and rituals. If you follow the path of Asho Zarathushtra, take care of our small community and live a life of truthfulness, we will, as a religion, survive until the great Renovation of the world! May the Light of our  Sacred Fires strengthen our ancient faith and bring Peace and Harmony to our Parsi Irani Zoroastrian Community. Atha Jamiatat Yatha Afrinami!”