Increasingly, as a community, we’re becoming our own worst enemy. We are quick to judge each other and jump to conclusions, often based on myths and rumours. We talk about religion without understanding it. We are keen to fight for the religion and even die for it, anything but live for it or live by…
While many the world over will celebrate Christmas with gifts, Christmas trees and much merriment, few would know that these festivities trace their roots to the ancient Zoroastrian feast of ‘Yalda’, observed annually around 21st December (sometimes 20th or 22nd December) coinciding with the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere. Yalda, is the longest and…
The Karname-e Ardashir-e Babakan or the Book of the Deeds of Ardashir, son of Babakan, is a legendary Middle Persian tale written during the Sasanian period (226 – 651 A.D.). This book narrates the epic adventures of the man who not only builds a great Persian empire but resurrects the Zoroastrian religion like the proverbial…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-black-border” border_style=”bordered” shadow=”shadow-down-right” rounded_corners=”rounded-3″ background_color_class=”otw-silver”]Many of us, during our school days, might have dreaded history as a subject. Many adults often find it boring. But, in truth, history can be quite fascinating. The history of ancient Iran is all the more important for every member of our community, young or old to know,…
Lord Ganesha is invoked before commencing anything significant and it is for this reason that he is called the ‘Lord of Beginnings’. He is also known as Vighnaharta or remover of obstacles. The concept of Vighnaharta or remover of obstacles resonates with the Zoroastrian concept of Verethragna or victorious (in overcoming difficulties, foes or enemies). What Vighnaharta Ganesha is to devout Hindus, Verethragna Bahram…
Another case of frivolous litigation Without getting into technical details, the bare facts are as follows:since the past several weeks a lot of misinformation, untruth and half-truth seem to have been spread through the print and electronic media. A case in point is the falsehood being spread that some trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” css_class=”boxed”]Parsi Times brings you the continuation of yet another interesting series titled, ‘Popular Parsi Myths’, written by our Community luminary, Zoroastrian scholar and visionary, and a writer par excellence – Noshir H. Dadrawala. The object of this series is to shed the light of truth on myths and fables and sift the facts…
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_style=”bordered” border_color=”#d09c2c”] The contribution of Parsis to the socio-economic development and welfare of the country is too wide and varied for justice in a short treatise. The Wadias have built schools, colleges and hospitals, the Petits too have built schools, hospitals, sanatoriums and dharamshalas. Whenever and wherever wealth has been generated by Parsis,…
As an ethnic community, Parsis have lived in India for over a millennium and myriad myths have been cherished and closeted which require to be brought out and given an occasional dusting. We realised the need for doing this in the course of a recent interaction with some elders of the community. It dawned on…
Holi signifies Change (from the cold winter to the warmth of spring), Colour (with all Nature awakening from its dull winter sleep to a riot of seasonal colours) and Love (which unfolds with the warmth of bonfires and festivity which foster friendship and bonding). As a spring festival, Holi provides one and all with the…
Many people regard ‘Ritual’ and ‘Reason’ as being anti-thetical. In reality, both are complementary factors in the process of spiritual growth. Prayers and rituals are born of man’s adoration for that unseen power underlying the mystery of life. Each religion prescribes its own set of practices as a means of adoration or worship or to…