Category Archives: Rituals and practices

Zoroastrian Prayers & Rituals

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A section of the community, particularly the so-called intelligentsia, believes that prayers and rituals are not in accord with the spirit and message of the Gatha. Their emphasis is only on ‘rational thought’ and the simplistic notion of “good thoughts, good words and good deeds”. Agreed, the religion of Asho Zarathushtra is not based on blind faith, superstition or fear of the unknown. Agreed, also, that no other religion has articulated or laid so much stress and emphasis on “good thoughts, good words and good deeds”. It must be stressed, however, that Zarathushtrianism in totality comprises both the theology as well as the ritual practices of the Faith……..Noshir Dadrawala….. Click here for more

Sadeh

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SADEH 

by  Kayomarsh P. Mehta

 

  

Sadeh  is a mid winter festival celebrated by Zarathushtis. It is popularly known as  Jashan-e Sadeh. In Iran it is the third  largest celebration after  Navrooz  and  Mehrgaan. For some reason, this festival is not celebrated in India.

Click here for full article sadeh_kayomarsh-p-mehta

SADEH

 

Selected photos from different parts of Iran –  Tehran, Kerman, Yazd, Ahvaz, Pirs,…..

 

 Click here ….. jashn_sadeh_2009_pictures 

Markar Complex, Tehranpars, Tehran:
http://www.mehrnews.com/fa/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=825311 

 


Prayers, music, lighting the fire, children on stage, girls school participants, congregations at pilgrimage places in the desert, speeches, priests, laity, all come together in Hamazori.

Photo credits as mentioned in

Farsi from different publications. 

Sadeh 2009 – Northern Virginia, USA – Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington DC

sadeh-2009_picture_zamw

 

Sad means one hundred in the  Farsi language

 


Jashn-e- Sadeh –   Counting One hundred before Nou Rooz (counting fifty days and fifty nights)

 

Courtesy : Behram Pastakia

Nou Rouz – 2009

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“The coming of the season at the proper time of the solar year.”

Avesta ‘Haptan Yasht’ (Ha-3)

 

Every year the vernal equinox is considered as the beginning of the New Year (Saal- E-Nou). In ancient Iran when the equinox coincided with the sun rise in their kingdom they celebrated it as the NEW DAY (Nou Rouz). It is a rare phenomenon and was the event of the generation.

 

Now that we are spread all over the globe we can celebrate the New Day (Nou Rouz) when it occurs in our part of the globe and demonstrate the scientific knowledge of our ancestors who lived thousands of years before Galileo.

 

On March 20, 2009 the Vernal Equinox will coincide with the Sun Rise at about 85.2 degrees longitude which happens to pass through the eastern part of North America.

 

The only other year in this generation that this phenomenon will repeat in North America is 2013 after which it will move into the Atlantic Ocean for a long time. So let’s take advantage of this historic opportunity. 

 

Fariborz Rahnamoon also informs us that this is the event of a life time. It takes approx. 72 years to repeat in about the same proximity. If we miss it, its history.
In 2028 and 2032 Nou Rouz will happen in Iran.

 

Continue reading at  program_nou-rouz_2009 

A Peep Into The Domestic Life Of The Parsis A Hundred Years Ago

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P.N. Tavaria

 

  [This article is taken from a book “A Manual of Khshnoom” by P.N. Tavaria].

         Often people ask today, where has our “PARSIPANU” gone and what are the reasons of our gradual decline as an ethnic group? The simple answer is that we have discarded our own lofty tarikats and instead chosen to ape the Western Culture. Well read on and more importantly let us learn and imbibe something of our own past ways of life. – Editor]

Click here …. a-peep-into-the-life-of-the-parsee-a-100-yrs-ago

 

Yalda Festival

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IRANIAN TRADITIONS & BELIEFS

YALDÂ FESTIVAL

The Birth of God Mithra & Significance of Winter Solstice in Iranian Culture

 

By Massoume Price

Edition by CAIS

 

 

Why Celebrate Yalda and not Christmas?

 

While the Christians celebrate Christmas, the Iranians, particularly Zarthushtis celebrate one of their most ancient celebrations, called Yalda, which means Birth. Yalda is the night of Mehr or Mithra’s birth. This is traced to the primal concept of Light and Good, against Darkness and Evil in the ancient Iranian religion. From this day forward, Light triumphs as the days grow longer and gives more light. 

 Continue reading on Yalda by clicking on the link : yalda-festival

Death and Beyond – The first four days after death

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Responsibilities of the living towards the departed.

 

Dear Friends,

 

Recently someone on the List asked a question regarding the first four days’ observances after death and the responsibilities of the living towards the dead.

 

I have written a comprehensive essay on this topic from the old writings of Ervad Phiroze Masani in Frashogard magazine over 70 years ago. I plan to make this into a small book to distribute at Doongerwadi and the Agiaries so that we may realise the importance of these 4 days and what our responsibilities are.

 

Our responsibilities towards our dear departed is one of the most solemn obligations placed on us in the Zoroastrian religion. Yet we hardly even know what we are supposed to do. this essay attempts to fulfil this gap in our understanding. Many of the points mentioned in the essay may seem impractical today, but we must know the complete details so that we may pass on this legacy to the next generation in toto.

 

Here is the first part of the essay. As usual I value your honest, detailed and cogent feedback.

 

Kind regards,

Ervad Marzban Hathiram

Click here to read all the 3 parts death-and-beyond 

 

Courtesy : Hushang Vakil

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