They may be few and far between, but Irani cafés are an institution in themselves. Goldmines of history, these age-old eateries with their checkered table covers and high ceilings have a character of their own. At the Hindustan Times Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) that starts February 7, you can embark on a heritage walk across many of these iconic
Read moreAt the entrance to Parsi Colony in Dadar, two new towers signal the changes creeping into this low-rise, historic neighbourhood. One is Parsi builder Jimmy Mistry’s Della Tower, a Persian behemoth that replaced the three-storey Dosal Mansion several years ago. Adorned with Avestan prayers and massive reliefs of Prophet Zarathustra, this luxury residence is often mistaken for a fire temple.
Read moreThe orthopedic specialist has grimly pronounced that you must lie flat in bed for three weeks, not bend down or lift weights for the rest of your life. The disc has truly slipped. As you lie forlorn, staring at your false ceiling, ruing the postures you can no longer adopt, a Good Samaritan promises a magical, instantaneous cure. Groaning in
Read moreEvery year, on 30 January, thousands of Zoroastrians or even the Muslims in Iran as well as other countries gather in Kerman, the city with the greatest Zoroastrian population, to celebrate the religious feast of Jashn-e Sadeh by burning firewood in an open space to signify the coming of spring and to defeat the forces of darkness, frost and cold.
Read moreUpcoming event for your children hosted by XYZ Games on Sunday, February 15 at 9:30 am at Cusrow Baug in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Rules: 1. Each Team has 11 participants – 10 children + 1 XYZ Parent (No older siblings or friends). Among the 10 players, 2 children must be between the ages 4-6 years, 2 children between 7-10 years,
Read moreHow many Tata Group employees would know that George Wittet, the Scottish architect who designed the Gateway of India was one of the first board members of the Tata Engineering Co, the earlier avatar of Tata Motors? Or that Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, founder of the Tata Group, had been arrested for arguing with an unfair British official at the Oval
Read morePeople of the Good Faith: A brief history of the Parsis by Aryaa Naik, Parsi cuisine by Peri Avari and introspection from Adi Patell on the dwindling tribe of Parsis (Zoroastrians). Click Here for the coverage of Parsis at Live Encounters Magazine – Free Online Magazine from Village Earth
Read moreIn exclusive Malabar Hill, the city’s dwindling Parsi community continues with the Zoroastrian tradition of disposing of dead bodies by exposing them to scavenger birds. How much longer can this 3,000-year-old tradition survive? Dokhmenashini originated in ancient Persia, the homeland which the Parsis fled, circa 900 AD, to protect their ancient faith from an emerging Islam. The practice survived in
Read moreNargis Sidhwa, 84, has lived in the Parsi ward at JJ Hospital since 2010. She never married, and her nieces and nephews live in the U.S. and U.K. Image by Rosalie Murphy. India, 2014. At 95, this Parsi priest can no longer perform rituals. He continues to wear his sudra and kusti, the ceremonial Zoroastrian shirt and belt, in the
Read moreIt is with deepest sadness we inform you that Mr. Fereidoon Demehri, the founder of our Zoroastrian News Agency (ZNA), passed away on Sunday January 18, 2015 at 12:57 PM in Vancouver Canada as a result of an unfortunate and untimely car accident. Unfortunate is an understatement as the radar detector on the camera that filmed the event, clearly shows
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