Hyderabad’s Parsi community gathered at the Zorastrian Club to ring in the Parsi New Year. After greeting each other and bonding over gupshup, the
focus shifted to the yummy Parsi spread. Guests were spotted relishing the delicacies and were seen having a great time. Among those in attendance were Zubin, Zarine, Kainaz and Khushnuma.
Pali naka’s Parsi pride – Roxanne Bamboat
Karan Johar’s mom, Hiroo digs the dhansak. But that’s not why you need to make a call to Ashmick.
For burb residents who whine about Parsi cuisine joints opening shutters in SoBo, Ashmick’s Snack Shack at the chaotic Pali Naka junction is the place to visit.
No more than four tables and chairs backed by a kitchen, it has no ambience to boast of, but its VFM bawa specialities more than make up for ‘mood’.
Owner Minoo Pavri (yes, we too went looking for an owner called ‘Ashmick’ but realised the name is a mix of ‘Ash’of Arohar – the winged guardian angel Parsis consider holy – and Pavri’s pet name ‘Mick’y. He has hand-picked dishes traditionally cooked in Parsi homes, and added a few snacks to beef up what’s a modest but deliciously simple menu.
Their mutton dhansak (Rs 240) is available only on Thursdays and Sundays (filmmaker Karan Johar’s mothyer, Hiroo, we hear, orders in often) but the patra ni machchi (Chak de! India actor Vidya Malavade is a fan) is yours to unwrap, sniff and tuck into all through the week.
Pavri started out in 1996 with no training in hospitality, and at a time when eating out wasn’t trendy. The recipes are his own, tweaked gently to cater to the new palate. His sali boti (Rs 220) for instance, usually a sweet-sour oniontomato gravy freckled with chunks of meat and topped with fried potato slivers, is a spicier version. Every dish that comes out of the kitchen where chefs trained by him operate like clockwork, must pass his tastetest. “Good food is top priority,” he says, like any true blue Parsi.
His biryanis are worth a try, especially for those who don’t enjoy having their lips greased with each bite. But the modest stunner, we say, is his prawn curry rice (Rs 200); it tastes just like it would in any Parsi home. A runny, balanced-with-flavour curry that supports a generous portion of succulent shrimp, it’s available only on Tuesdays and Fridays, and is worth the weekly wait.
Although seemingly out of place, Ashmick’s list of snacks (sandwiches, rolls and puffs) have their own fans from around the neighbourhood. From the roaster, we vote for the signature Ashmick burger (Rs 90) that packs in chicken, ham, egg, cheese and coleslaw (they have a mutton boti burger option too).
It has taken him a while to become the takeaway joint Bandraites love to visit (including John Abraham’s family and actor Nauheed Cyrusi), but at the moment, Pavri does seem the man to uphold Parsi culinary honour that side of the Sea Link.
Ashmick’s Snack Shack, Pali Naka (11 am to 10 pm). Shut on Wednesday. Call 26005010
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/you/Pali-nakas-Parsi-pride/articleshow/32508379.cms
Threads of Continuity
FEZANA partners with PARZOR in publication of the Book “Threads of Continuity”
We all wear a Sudreh Kusti after our Navjotes / Sudreh Pooshi but most of us do not realize the significance of this sacred armour in our life or religion. Published after close to ten years of research, Threads of Continuity is the first book ever to explain cogently why it is so important for our lives.
When we observe the great skill required in weaving a kusti and how each part of this sacred thread has a symbolic meaning, we shall wish to preserve this great tradition for future generations.
Here is an opportunity to learn more and share with our families and community the importance of maintaining the Zoroastrian culture and religion through understanding and appreciating the value of our ancient traditions.
Written by Ashdeen Z. Lilaowala with Shernaz Cama, Threads of Continutiy is available at http://www.unescoparzor.com/ Copies can be sent to Associaitons or to individuals who write to parzorfoundation@gmail.com or call at 011 26513560.
Review of the book from Hamazor magazine Issue No. 1 (2014) by Ardeshir Marker attached – Review in Hamazor
The Institution of Engineers (India) provides Grant-in-Aid support to pursue Research & Development in the field of Engineering and Technology.
Click Here for the details and guidelines
For submission of New Projects, visit their website at www.ieindia.org and go to R&D tab
IEI has instituted ‘IEI Young Engineers Award’. The Award consists of Rs10,000/- and a Certificate. The purpose of the Award is to recognize outstanding achievements/contributions made by young engineers in engineering research, excellence in engineering technology development, technology transfer, etc. Any engineer citizen of India not older than 35 years of age as on March 31, 2014 is eligible for the Award.
The Application Proforma is to be filled online which is available on IEI website (www.ieindia.org) latest by March 31, 2014. Six copies of the printout of the duly filled application proforma endorsed by appropriate authority should be sent to:
Director (Technical), The Institution of Engineers (India), 8 Gokhale Road, Kolkata 700020.
The envelope containing the application should be labeled at the top with ‘IEI Young Engineers Award 2014-15’ and name of the engineering division under which the applicant desires to be considered for the Award.
Click Here for more details
APPEAL FROM PERVIN LANGRANA FOR A 10 YEAR OLD PARSI BOY IN ANDHERI
Dear Friends
Pervin Langrana, a resident at Bharucha Baug, Bldg. No. D/3- Flat No. 82, S.V.Road, Andheri (W) Mumbai 400 058, is making this appeal on behalf of Mr. Gev Bulsara whose son has met with an Accident.
She is sending you’ll this appeal to state what has happened in her colony on last Saturday 15th.March 2014. A small boy Zarir Bulsara, 10 years old was sitting with his friends in our garden at around noon time and a coconut fell on his head, resulting in fracturing his skull into more than 24/25 pieces. He was rushed to the Nanavati Hospital, where Drs. Attended him immediately and operated on him. He was fully unconscious till Monday noon and was kept in I.C.U. for 5 days. On Wednesday he was shifted to a room. The impact has paralysed the child on the left side.
Mr. Gev Bulsara is coming from a middle class family. There are 6 persons in the family and only Mr. Gev Bulsara and his wife are earning members. His 2 children are schooling and his Mother and sister are old and dependant on him only.
This blow has really shaken them and I personally request one and all to come forward to help him what ever you all can. Please do send your cheqs / cash directly to Mr. GEV BULSARA at Bharucha Baug, Bldg. No. D/2 – Flat No. 95, S.V.Road, Andheri (W) Mumbai 400 058.
If you need any further clarification please feel free to contact her on tel. no. 9819173501. Her name is Pervin Langrana. e.mail is –perveen_langrana@hotmail.com
Request our fellow bawas to share this post to your friends also.
Thanx & God Bless.
While the Parsis might be a minority community, Bollywood has often made films around them. We list down the 10 most popular Parsi portrayals in films and TV.
Click Here for brief intros and trailers
By Anil Dharker Mar 14 2014
Contemporary dance has now been around for over four decades. Brought in by lone pioneers like Astad Deboo, it is practiced by a small number of groups which survive because their rarity value ensures a certain number of corporate entertainment programmes every month. Most of these groups are quite abysmal, lacking in both conceptualisation and execution. I wasn’t a fan of Deboo either, but in recent years his working to Indian themes rather than abstract movements, plus his effort to bring in fusion between Indian classical dance forms and contemporary dance, has resulted in some quite remarkable works.
Shiamak Davar himself has been through the rigorous grind of classical ballet under the watchful eye of Tushna Dallas, another Parsi like him. After he finished his formal training, he embraced contemporary dance, and soon started a school to impart training in it. This has been a huge success story, with classes mushrooming everywhere, and hundreds of students enrolled all over the place.
There are different ways to cope up with problems, balance out life, find inner peace and regain energy. One such way is movement therapy that is based on the premise of the mind-body connection. The use of movement as a therapeutic method can be dated back to the earliest periods of human history. Yet, 
people are unaware about it. We spoke to Mumbai-based movement therapist Dilshad Patel, who explains what movement therapy is all about and how can it be a helpful tool in today’s healthcare.
What kind of problem is movement therapy useful for?
Movement therapy can be used for diverse populations. Every issue does not necessarily have a solution. Movement therapists work as allied health professionals to help patients find the best possible outcome in dealing with a problem or issue at hand. I have worked with patients suffering from chronic conditions like heart disease, lung problems, Parkinson’s disease and cancer to individuals who to want to cope up with daily issues like stress, anxietyand fear.
How is movement therapy different from other therapies like yoga?
Yoga makes use of definitive postures or asanas which help the person in improving health. So to benefit completely the person has to attain those specific postures. Movement therapy doesn’t have definitive postures. All movements are organic and come from the client. So first we understand what the client’s issue is through non-verbal communication and then we kind of fine-tune their existing movement patterns. We assist them in experiencing different gesture/postures and body movement while making them comfortable and engaging them. We read, interpret and then offer solutions by subtle changes to the clients existing movement patterns
Click Here for more
Click Here for Dilshad Patel’s website
Discover more than 3,000 years of tradition and customs on Sunday, March 16, 2014 at the Persian New Year celebration in Reston Town Center. Enjoy music, dance, dramatic performances and meet with costumed characters roaming the festival. Shop in our bazaar or savor the flavors of Persia in our food court. Fun for the entire family. Free admission and plenty of parking available.
