Category Archives: Forums

Mumbai model-actor to launch Parsi-only dating app

By Apoorva Puranik |Posted 20-Jan-2016

Mumbai-based model-actor plans to launch a dating and social connectivity app in association with a Pune tech firm exclusively for single Parsis to mingle; reformists ask why not for all

 If the government’s $1.6 million programme to arrest the decline of numbers in the Parsi Zoroastrian community, by offering the best in IVF expertise, is to be a true blue success, bachelorhood can no longer be a Parsi mainstay.

 

Mumbai-based model, television actor and bachelor Viraf Patel understands this.

 

When his friends and family didn’t tire from coaxing him to “find a nice Parsi girl”, Patel began to seriously ponder on ways to meet and greet. “The best way to get to know someone is by communicating,” says Patel, who then struck on the idea of an app that would help community members connect.

Click here to know all about it

 

Zoroastrians try to beat extinction

The New Zealand Herald : 5:00 AM Friday May 15, 2015

 

World youth congress in Auckland in December is a bid to get followers to marry within the faith, writes Lincoln Tan.

From left, Zoroastrians Tinaz Karbhari with Sanaya Master and Kainaz Jasmasbnejad. Photo / Brett Phibbs

From left, Zoroastrians Tinaz Karbhari with Sanaya Master and Kainaz Jasmasbnejad. Photo / Brett Phibbs

One of the world’s oldest religions is facing extinction, and will be fighting for its survival in Auckland.

Zoroastrianism, founded about 3500 years ago and considered to be among the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, has a tiny number of followers here.

But that number is also shrinking, dropping from 1071 in 2006 to just 972 at the last Census.

In India, where most Zoroastrians live, the numbers have halved since 1940 to about 61,000.

They believe in one god, Ahura Mazda, and follow the teachings of ancient Prophet Zoroaster. They worship in fire temples, believing fire to be a symbol of God’s purity.

The religion has its roots in Persia and adherents are also known as Parsis.

The community will be organising a world youth congress in December, to be held in Auckland, in a bid to get followers to marry within the faith.

Click here to continue reading

 

Courtesy : Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad

Religious Lecture Programme for March 2014

Dear members,
Please find attached Religious Lecture Programme for March 2014. This month are included lectures for the Panj-i-Meh Fasli Gatha days from 16th – 20th March.
On each of these days a Jashan will be held at 5 pm followed by a lecture. All humdins are welcome to attend the Jashan and lectures.
Regards
Behram P Dhabhar
Click on Table for a larger view.
Religious Programme - March 2014

10th World Zoroastrian Congress – Mumbai

Dear all,

 

The 10th World Zoroastrian Congress will be held in Mumbai from 27thDecember to 30th December 2013. The last World Zoroastrian Congress was hosted by Dubai in December 2009, and India will be hosting this grand event after an interval of 23 years.

 

The Organising Committee of the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress is making all efforts to make this event a spectacular and most unforgettable experience for all our delegates. We are sure you must be eagerly awaiting updates, so here’s everything to bring you up to speed:

 

THEME

The theme of the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress is ‘Zoroastrianism in the 21st Century: Nurturing Growth and Affirming Identity’. The Zoroastrian community in the 21st century needs to grow not only in its numbers, but in its economic and social welfare index, in its entrepreneurship and its contribution to the communities in which it exists. With this growth, the community affirms its identity as a socially and economically progressive unit, recognised for its selfless altruism – in short, projecting the past into the future.

 

VENUE

The venue of the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress is the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), a sophisticated and centrally located at Nariman Point in South Mumbai with a beautiful view of the Arabian Sea. NCPA is India’s foremost cultural establishment and the venue is, therefore, representative of the rich patronage it enjoys from Parsi and Iranian Zoroastrians.

 

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

The Organising Committee is finalising a selection of the most suitable and convenient places to stay at for our outstation and foreign delegates. The choice of the hotels will be determined by its proximity to the venue and will suit different budgets. The details will be put up shortly on the website:www.wzcmumbai.com.

 

ONLINE REGISTRATION

The registration for the Congress will be happening shortly, as we are awaiting finalisation of the payment gateway to enable payment of delegate fees online. The details will be put up shortly on the website: www.wzcmumbai.com. We look forward to receiving a tremendous response from all of you and hope to make the Congress a success with your participation.

 

EXHIBITION AT NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART (NGMA), MUMBAI

The 10th World Zoroastrian Congress is proud to announce an exhibition as part of its cultural objective. ‘From Canton to Mumbai – The Story of Parsi Textiles’ intends to showcase Parsi and Iranian textiles and costumes, such asGara saris, Tanchoi saris, Jablas (loose blouse) and CoateesIjars (loose pantaloons), embroidered shawls, and traditional Zoroastrian costumes from the province of Yazd, Iran. These costumes were worn by immigrant Zoroastrians from Iran (popularly referred to as the Iranis in India) when they came to Bombay in the 19th Century. This exhibition will also showcase Canton of the 19th Century from where Parsi merchants purchased Garas and brought them to Bombay.

 

PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF THE WORLD ZOROASTRIAN CONGRESS

The Congress will put forward an approximate number of 50 sessions and panel discussions that will be addressed by eminent speakers and scholars from India and all over the world. The morning segment of the Congress will comprise keynote speakers and panellists addressing topics in consonance with the Congress theme: ‘Zoroastrianism in the 21st Century: Nurturing Growth and Affirming Identity’. The afternoons will be dedicated to breakout sessions, with experts speaking on topics as diverse as socio-religious issues; lessons from history; youth affairs; arts, theatre and law – aspects of community living; the correlation between rituals and religion; and a dedicated Iranian section. A more detailed programme schedule will be put up shortly on the website:www.wzcmumbai.com.

 

ALPAIWALLA MUSEUM

As a legacy of the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress we have undertaken to restore and refurbish the Alpaiwalla Museum in Khareghat colony at Mumbai to its former glory. This will entail excessive refurbishment of the structure as well as interiors and creating display areas for more than 1,800 rare artifacts with the museum.

 

SPONSORSHIP

The Organising Committee is looking for well-meaning members of the community to come forward and support the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress. Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India Ltd. is our main sponsor. The House of Godrej is an event sponsor. If you are interested in supporting the Congress through sponsorship, or if you know anyone else who might be interested in doing so, please email us onsponsorship@wzcmumbai.com.

 

On behalf of the Organising Committee, I look forward to welcoming you all to the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress, and do log on to www.wzcmumbai.comfor further updates.

 

 

Warm Regards,

Dinshaw Mehta

Chairman,

Bombay Parsi Punchayet

Meeting for families of persons with special needs

Meeting for families of persons with special needs – BPP – Sun, 19 Sep 2010

Dear Friends,

Please forward this message to all your Parsi friends and contacts.

This is a notice about a meeting organised by the BPP,  on Sunday 19th September, at Bharucha Baug Hall, for families of persons with special needs.

BPP Meeting_19Sep10

Thank you for helping to spread the word about this important meeting.

Warm regards,
Kashmira A. Kakalia

For NRI’s and PIO’s – Surrender of Indian Passport

For NRI’s and PIO’s — “Opposition to Retroactive Enforcement of New Rules for Surrender of Indian Passport”. 

  “Opposition to Retroactive Enforcement of New Rules for Surrender of Indian Passport”.  

 The latest notice posted on the website of Consul General of India in New York and San Francisco, says, “In supercession of previous rules, Government of India has decided that Persons of Indian origin who have already acquired foreign citizenship up until 31 May 2010 will not be required to pay renunciation fees of USD 175.00, he/she will be required to pay miscellaneous fees of USD 20.00 when getting the old Indian passport cancelled/surrendered.

 In future those Indian citizens who acquire foreign citizenship on or after 01 June 2010 will have to submit declaration of renunciation of their Indian citizenship forms as given on website and fees of USD 175.00.”

 More details below in GOPIO newsletter:  GOPIO Newsletter

Courtesy : Behram Pastakia

All-India Directory of Parsi institutions

All-India Directory of Parsi institutions compiled by Marzban J. Giara.
280 pages, hard bound Published March 2010. Price Rs.200/-

N. M. Wadia Charities has published an All-India Direectory of Parsi institutions compiled by Marzban Giara. This directory was released by Justice Shahrukh J. Kathawalla at Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari on Sunday 2nd May 2010. It is a handy reference book of over 500 Parsi institutions.

It contains useful information about all Atash Behrams, agiaries, anjumans, associations, clubs/gymkhanas, colleges. cultural societies, dharamshalas, funds/trusts, foundations, hostels, Parsi newspapers and magazines, convalescent homes/infirmaries, charitable dispensaries/ hospitals, libraries, museums, orphanages, religious societies, schools, Parsi/Zoroastrian websites.

A survey questionnaire was prepared and mailed to various Parsi organisations. Announcements were also made in Jame Jamshed, Bombay Samachar and Parsiana requesting heads of institutions to send their information to N. M. Wadia Charities .

Over a hundred years ago in 1911 Shams-Ul-Ulama Ervad Dr. Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi published a book in Gujarati listing the names of Parsi institutions existing at that time. It is hoped that this book will spread awareness among our community members about the resources and facilities available. It will also serve as a guide to philanthropists big and small who desire to contribute for causes dear to them.

This book is available from N. M . Wadia Charities, N. M. Wadia Building, 123, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001 Tel. 022- 22674271 e-mail: nmwadiacharities@ gmail.com

Courtesy : Zareer Giara

8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2010

8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2010
 
Indian Govt plans to woo Overseas Indians to be partners in economic growth
 
Assurances for protecting investment and private property will be given
 
 By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Wed 23 of Dec, 2009 13:34 UTC
 
New Delhi, Dec 23 : At the beginning of the year 2010, the Indian government has planned to woo its diaspora spread across to globe into the mainstream of its emerging economy. A three-day redesigned gala event – 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – is being organised by the Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with the Delhi government and the Confederation of Indian Industry from January 7.
 

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