This morning New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, celebrated NauRooz with the leaders of all ethnic communities observing NauRooz holiday at a breakfast at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City Mayor.

A gathering of almost 50+ individuals included five Zoroastrians (Zarin Mehta, President New York Philharmonic; Shirin Khosravi, President, IZA; Cyrus Mehta, well-known lawyer; Kayhan Irani, famous artist; and myself)–quite a representation for a small community.

After taking photographs with all attendees separately, the Mayor shared the breakfast at each table starting with mine. Afterwards, in a short speech, he acknowledged the contribution of all ethnic communities in the celebration of NauRooz, a time for rejuvenation and a time for “spring cleaning”. The event turned out to be very informal as everyone had a chance to mix with the Mayor and other guests.

Homi D. Gandhi, Main Representative,
FEZANA NGO at the United Nations

Celebrating TEN YEARS of pride –
the Zarathushti Heritage & Cultural Center of Houston

Our celebration:

As a friend of the Zarathushti Heritage & Culture Center of Houston, we would be honored if you would attend our celebration and rejoice our moment in Zarathushti history!

It’s our great pleasure to invite you to be a part of our celebrations and share in our moment in Rejoicing Our Heritage.

A schedule of events is attached for your information. Please make plans to come and celebrate with us.

Looking forward to seeing you in Houston!

NAUROOZ DAY PARADE CELEBRATION

The fifth “PersianParade” in celebration of NauRooz Day is coming soon and it will take place on Sunday March 30, 2008. The Parade is expected to draw tens of thousands of participants and spectators in New York City. The Parade procession will march on Madison Avenue starting at 41st street and ending at 27th street. The Parade promptly begins at 12:00 noon.

It has been suggested by the organizers that the Zoroastrians participate among the very early floats. Adults and children may be in traditional Zoroastrian attire, preferably in white attire like Dagli, Dagla, etc.

We are planning to meet all Zoroastrians at the South West corner of Park Avenue and 41st Street around 10:00-10:30 AM Kindly ensure that everyone is ready and assembled at that corner as we will slowly proceed from there to Madison Avenue to be ready to commence the Parade sharp at NOON. Please email your name and telephone # to Khusheed Navder (secretary@zagny.org) so that we have a record of all attendees at the Parade. Thank you.

LET US MAKE THIS NAUROOZ DAY A GREAT SUCCESS!

Thanks to FEZANA Khorshed Jungalwalla Lecture Series and Firdosh Mehta for arranging the Religious Education Seminar that will also take place in Houston on April 12, 2008.  A meet and greet speaker session will be held on Friday evening, April 11th. For Houston details please click on the attached
FEZANA Khorshed Jungalwalla Lecture Series Flyer

Aban Rustomji

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NauRooz, falling each year on the Spring Equinox, March 21, marks the official New Year for Zoroastrians worldwide.

Zoroastrian organizations throughout North America to hold prayers and ceremonies to mark the auspicious occasion. 

Pomona, New York, March 3, 2008 – Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) today announced that Zoroastrian organizations throughout the United States and Canada will celebrate the important festival of NauRooz (pronounced Noh-Rooz), on Friday, March 21, 2008, marking the official celebration of the Zoroastrian New Year at the turn of the spring equinox. ZAGNY will mark the occasion with a prayer ceremony on March 21, 2008 at 4-30 PM at ARBAB RUSTAM GUIV DARBE-MEHR, 106 Pomona Road, Suffern, NY 10901. Media and the public are invited to attend.

“The beauty, meaning and symbolism of NauRooz can best be experienced by sharing in our traditions and understanding the depth and breadth of NauRooz as more than just a religious holiday, but a celebration of a New Day, and a resolve to work for a brighter year ahead,” said ZAGNY President Homi Gandhi. “While today we are not the only people to celebrate NauRooz, our customs, culture and traditions are unique to our religion and our story as a growing religious body in North America.”

Zoroastrians have long served as effective bridge builders in interfaith dialogue as they see from their own faith, traditions of truth, righteousness, charity, beneficence and respect for creation reflected in traditions of the religions of both the occident and the orient.

“The North American Zoroastrian community is vibrant and growing, and striving for togetherness by celebrating and perpetuating auspicious holidays like NauRooz,” says FEZANA president, Dr. Rustom Kevala. “As we grow in the North American diaspora, it is our responsibility to proactively reach out and educate the public at large, and to showcase the many contributions being made each day by Zoroastrians throughout North America, and indeed throughout the world.”

Zoroastrianism, founded circa 1500 BCE, is credited to be the oldest monotheistic religion, influencing post-exilic Judaism, which adopted some Zoroastrian beliefs such as the ultimate victory of good over evil and the resurrection of souls. These percepts were then transmitted through Judaism to Christianity, and later to Islam. Zoroastrianism flourished as the imperial religion of three Persian empires, those of the Achaemenians, Parthians and Sasanians, and was the dominant religion from Turkey, and eastward to China during those times. North America’s Zoroastrian community includes those who arrived from the Indian subcontinent, known as Parsis, and those who came directly from Iran seeking religious freedom.

About  ZAGNY
Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Pomona, New York, ZAGNY represents the interests and provides a spiritual base for Zoroastrians throughout the Greater New York area. ZAGNY provides its membership with spiritual and religious guidance, religious education, interfaith participation and leadership, as well as social, cultural and community programming. For more information please visit: www.zagny.org

About FEZANA
Founded in 1987, FEZANA serves as the coordinating body for 25 Zoroastrian associations and several smaller Zoroastrian groups throughout the United States and Canada. FEZANA promotes the study, understanding and practice of the Zoroastrian faith in North America. It represents the interests of its member associations, and carries out philanthropic and charitable activities worldwide. The FEZANA Journal, FEZANA’s publication of record, circulates to Zoroastrian households in more than 22 countries, as well as to scholars, academicians and religious organizations worldwide. For more information visit www.fezana.org.

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Contacts:

ZAGNY Media Relations:
Homi D. Gandhi, President
Mobile: 201.410.8963 or president@zagny.org

FEZANA Media Relations:
Jim Engineer
FEZANA Media Relations
Mobile: 630.728.1387 or jim.engineer@e-rainmaker.com

It was in 1923 that the eminent philanthropist, the late Seth Mervanji Cama laid the foundation of the Mancherji Framji Cama Athornan Institute.  His vision was to sow the seeds of religious knowledge and fervour in the minds and hearts of young priests so that they may become torchbearers to the community.  It is to the credit of this Institute that several learned Dasturs and scholars have passed through its portals and later guided the community.

Today, a small group of dedicated and dynamic persons belonging to the Ex-Students Association have offered their services to rejuvenate this Institute.  The Refresher Course, which has been organized by them with great success for the last five years, is a clear testimony of their deep fervour. …Read the rest of this entry »»»