ZANTZANT NEWSNEWS

A Publication of Zoroastrian Association of North Texas www.zant.org August 2009

ZANT E VENTS ZZZOROASTRIAN CCCALENDAR IIINSIDE THIS IIISSUE Past Activities 2 • 8/15: Anand Bazaar (p. 3) • 8/7 - Farvardegan (K) • 8/9-8/18: Muktad Prayers (p.3 ) Upcoming Activities 2-3 • 8/9 - 8/18 Muktad (S) • 8/22: Shenshai New Year (p.3) Kid’s Corner 4 • 9/6: Farvardegan Jashan (p. 3) • 8/14 - Hamaspathmaedayem Gh. (S) • 9/12:Cooking Class (p.3) ZANT Center Update 5 • 9/13:Religious Class (p.4) • 8/19 - NouRuz (S) Zoroastrian Stimulus Plan 5 • 9/20:Paitishem Gahambar (p.8) • 8/24 - Khordad Sal (S) Treasurer’s Corner 6-7

• 8/29 - 9/2 Maidyozarem Gh. (K) Miscellaneous 8

Traveler’s Tales 8-9 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD BBBOARD OFOFOF DDDIRECTORS We continue to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer season. The ZANT Board is looking forward to celebrating all the upcoming festivities in President Kamran Behroozi our community. (972) 355-6607 Vice President Farieda

Treasurer Pearl P. Balsara Keep the smile, leave the tear. Secretary Khurshid Jamadar Think of joy, forget the fear. Social Director Keshvar Buhariwalla

Hold the laughter, leave the pain. Director Roya Bidanjiry

Director Delna Godiwalla Be joyous, because it's new year's day!! FEZANA Rep. Firdosh Mehta

Mailing Address: Shenshai Nowroz Mubarak! P.O. Box 271117 Flower Mound, TX 75027-1117 ZANT Center : - ZANT Board 1605 Lopo Road Flower Mound, TX 75028-1306

We welcome and encourage feedback from our community. Please send comments or suggestions to [email protected] or mail to ZANT, P.O. Box 271117, Flower Mound, TX 75027 ZANT News - Aug 2009 1

ZANT A CTIVITIES --- LLLOOKING BBBACK CREATIONS OF MAZDA A Book Written & Illustrated by Children of Bob Woodruff pavilion was overflowing with fun on Saturday, ZANT July 4th. We had many, many families show up and enjoy the time together. The children splashed around in the tradition of This literary work includes the Amesha Spentas Tirgan with water balloons and water guns. The adults partici- and the Seven Creations, the Zoroastrian Crea- pated in numerous hard fought beach volleyball matches, strolled tion story, the 30 days of the Zoroastrian Calen- around the lake and even crowned a ZANT 2009 Chili Champ - dar, and finally a few puzzles and activities to Pearl Balsara. The real fun started when Yazdi fired up the keep the mind sharp in regards to Zoroastrian- grill! First he treated us to fresh grilled corn with the chili and ism. This book is a must have for every Zoroas- lemon rubbings. Then he began to put Charlotte's hand made trian home library and we burgers on the grill, basted with Charlotte's home made BBQ urge our community to sauce. All those who were there to feast on these burgers can purchase this special Lim- attest to their ZANT's best burger title, hands down! ited Edition for your own Thank you Charlotte & Yazdi for sponsoring the “Burger” dinner. family and friends. Please It really made the picnic so much fun for all who attended. Also, support our kids’ hard a very big thank you to all of you who braved the heat & came to work and effort in raising the park & joined us in the celebration! We ended the evening by funds for the ZANT watching the Plano City fireworks display from our park benches. Available on sale for $10

REMINDER REMINDER

What: The 6th Zoroastrian Unity ANAND BAZAAR AND MELA Cup Soccer Tournament Once again, it’s time for selling Falooda at Anand When: September 5 7, 2009 Bazar on August 15, 2009 from 5:30 p.m.—12 Where: Aviation Park, Redondo Beach, California a.m.. This is our biggest fundraiser event for the

year and all proceeds go towards the ZANT Gen Don't forget to also purchase your tickets for "An Affair to eral Fund . Costs for this event include booth Remember" - ZSC's exclusive Black & White rental and supplies. The rent for the booth is Party, featuring the incredible Deejay AL! $300.00. In the past, this event has been subsidized Applications, tickets for the banquet dinner and dance, and by our ZANT families’ donations. We look for- more information are available now at: http://zathleti cs.com ward to your continued support and generosity. . We also need volunteers to make and serve fa- For all North Texas Zoroastrians who would like to partici- pate and be part of a ZANT soccer team, please contact Bar- looda. It’s fun and the food is always deli- jis Ghadially at [email protected] . cious. For information and volunteering, please call Khurshid Jamadar (after July 12th) or e-mail her at [email protected] .

FFFOROROR YOUR INFORMATION

UDVADA MUKTAD SCHEME During the ten holy days of MUKTAD, Afargan, Farokshi & Satum prayers will be performed in Iranshah . The names of Asho Farohar will be recited in all of the above prayers. Amount per Name Rs. 100/ KHURSHED DASTOOR KAIKOBAD DASTOOR * OPP. IRANSHAH ATASH BEHRAM, – 396180 * P – 7 CUSROW BAUG, COLABA, – 400001 Tel No. 66334371 NOTE: Names for the above will be accepted up to 08.03.09 – Roj 20, 12.

ZANT News - Aug 2009 2

MMMUKTAD PRAYERS AND JJJASHAN SSSHENSHAI NEW YEAR

MUKTAD PRAYERS Shenshai New Year 1379 Y.Z. is fast approach- ing. Mark your calendar for Saturday, August 22 . We Date: August 9-18 are planning an evening of Dancing through the Dec- Time: Various ades . So choose your favorite music decade and feel Place: Sidhwa residence free to dress up like the rock star you always wanted to be! Chef Neville Panthaky, of Bengal Coast, Dallas' newest South Asian Fusion restaurant, has created a The Muktad humbandagi prayers venerate the special menu for our New Year Party. Please make sure of our dearly departed through short prayers recited you come ready to dance. Our community teens are along with the translation. Please join us as we spend 30 working hard on compiling music that will appeal to minutes in prayer and friendship. As always, those at- everyone with a few surprises in store. Please see at- tending are invited to bring fresh flowers, food and pho- tached flyer on p. 9 for details and send in your RSVP tographs of the departed ones to be placed on the prayer before the August 15th deadline. table. The daily Muktad prayers will be held at the Sidhwa residence from August 9 - 18 (both days inclusive). Prayer times are as follows: August 9 (Sunday) 11:00am August 1014(Monday Friday) 7:30pm August 1516 (Saturday & Sunday) 11:00am August 1718 (Monday and Tuesday) 7:30pm

FARVARDEGAN JASHAN CCCOOKING CLASS FOR ALL AGES The Farvardegan Jashan will be held on September 6 , Please come and join us for a fun cooking class on Sat- 2009 at Monaz and Hormazd Karkaria's home. The th jashan will start at 10:30am. This will be followed by a urday September 12 from 11am to 4pm at the Behroozi lunch of chicken biryani, dal palak and dessert. In order residence. Rakhshandeh Dhalla and Saghar Behroozi to plan the luncheon, please call Monaz or email her at will teach you to cook chicken biryani and rice in the by August 31, 2009 and let her know if you will attend Iranian style respectively. You will also learn how to and stay for the luncheon. prepare raita and bake baghlava (the cake version). Cost is $10.00 for adults, Everybody is invited to swim in the pool and play games after lunch. Please RSVP with Saghar or Rakhshandeh $5.00 for children 4-10 by September 8 th . $20.00 for non-members There will be a late charge of $5.00. If you would like the names of your departed loved ones MMMONTHLY GOODIE included in the Jashan, please complete the enclosed form (p. 10) and mail it to Poras Balsara, so as to reach Thank you to Zenobia Dadyburjor for her excellent him before September 3rd. You can also e-mail him. Chicken a la Bia. Would you like to use your talents to help the Building Fund? We are looking for volunteers for future Monthly Goodies, and Anahita would love to hear from you. Please call her..

ZANT News - Aug 2009 3

KKKIDS ’ C’ C ORNER

Watermelon is the answer The older children continued to brainstorm and take notes for their game ideas. They have already started working W – Whatever you believe creates your reality on some Zoroastrian board games. All games and materi- A – Attitude is the magic word als will be made with a Zoroastrian twist . Some ideas include the Game of Life, Monopoly, etc. The plan is to T – Together everyone achieves more have games children can play on their own at the ZANT E – Enthusiasm will help you accomplish any task center which will focus on our religion, cultures and tra- ditions . R – Respect yourself, as well as others M – Make commitments, not excuses Joke Time (Laugh – it increases your face value ) ☺ E – Everyday can be a fun day Q: Do you know what you get when you cross a millipede L – Love is the answer - the greatest force with a parrot? O – One day at a time A: A walkie talkie! N – Never give up or become a victim – it works if you work it! Q: What is the difference between brussel sprouts and

boogers? Let “WATERMELON” remind you that you are lar- A: Kids don't eat brussel sprouts! ger than events. YOU have the power to create and change events by what you believe! (Source: Wally Amos: Be Q: How do you make a kleenex dance? Positive) A: You got to put a little BOOGIE into it!

Religious Class : Thought for the Month:

“He who cannot be a good follower cannot The July “little kids” religious class was about out two basic prayers: the be a good leader” and the Yatha Ahu Vairyo . The kids learned that Ashem Vohu tells “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the us to seek happiness in life by doing work” things in the right order or the right way. So Ashem Vohu makes you smile! The Yatha Ahu Vairyo prayer is about doing “We are what we repeatedly do. good deeds. It is not always easy to do good deeds, hence we pray to to help us perform Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” good deeds. -Anonymous The “Middle-age” class has started their virtual tour of . Our 1 st destination was the 6 Pirs in the Children’s Religious Class: region . We discussed …. Our next religious class will be held on Sunday, Septem • The story/legend common to all Pirs ber 13, 2009 at 11:30 am , at the Balsara Residence. Please note that we will not have a class in August as our • Summer to the Pirs “Muktaad” prayers begin from August 9, 2009. How “Seti Pir” & “Pir-e-Sabz” (Chak Chak) are most For further details about the Religious Classes, please popular of the 6 Pirs contact Pearl Balsara . We ended the class watching 2 videos of the “PirE (Kid’s Corner logo courtesy of Zoroastrian Studies, Sabz / Chak Chak” on the internet. )

ZANT News - Aug 2009 4

ZANT C ENTER UUUPDATE

The Building Committee is happy to announce that our tary damages caused by this contractor’s default. This is- building is finally getting off the ground (literally). After sue impacted our budget, but only slightly. The setback is many months of trials and tribulations getting through our behind us now and the project has progressed at a great site work and building foundation work, our building slab pace in July. was completed on Friday July 17, 2009. Our framing com- pany quickly got onsite and in just two days had all our We anticipate our momentum to continue through the next walls framed. It was an incredible transformation. Within couple months as the building gets filled out and the vari- the next couple weeks (by August 7), the framing should ous trades complete their work. We hope you share our be completed and ready for the other trades to begin their enthusiasm as our building begins to sprout from the work. ground. It is truly a sight to be seen. Additionally, the parking lot is complete and the remaining Please call Jamshed Rivetna if you have any questions. site work is planned for completion by Friday August 7. With the building taking shape and the site finally cleared and graded, the project has taken on a whole new personality. Be sure to drive by the site soon. It will be changing very quickly over the coming weeks. In mid-June, after working on our project since November 2008, our concrete contractor defaulted on our contract and was not able to complete the agreed scope of work. This contractor was quickly replaced by another contractor to complete the concrete work and unfinished site work. The original contractor had been paid for certain materials for our building slab, but the materials were never deliv- ered. The Board and Building Committee have discussed the situation and we are taking actions to recover the mone-

ZOROASTRIAN STIMULUS PLAN: ANONYMOUS JOB SEARCH & CAREER COUNSELING SESERVICERVICE (UPDATED INFORMATION)

Looking for a job or contract work? Thinking about starting your own business? Seeking career guid- ance? FEZANA and the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) are excited to offer this free, private Job Search, Career Counseling, and Entrepreneur Mentoring service to the community. >> Visit http://tinyurl.com/zorostimulus to register for this service We'll work with Zoroastrian associations across North America to help connect you with other Zoroastrians who can be of assistance in finding job opportunities, career counseling, starting a business, etc. The ser- vice is designed to protect your privacy, so your name and contact info will not be shared broadly. >> Visit http://tinyurl.com/zorostimulus-listings to see the latest job and mentor listings

Know of a job opening you’d like to share with the community? Want to help out as a Career or Entrepre- neurship Mentor? >> Visit http://tinyurl.com/zorostimulus-help to post a job opening or to sign-up as a mentor

>> Visit http://tinyurl.com/zorostimulus-listings for profiles of Zoroastrians seeking jobs / guidance

More details are available at http://tinyurl.com/zorostimulus . If you have additional questions, feel free to email [email protected] . This effort is being organized as part of the WZC’s Youth Leadership Enhancement Program by Jasmine Dadachanji (Victoria, BC), Eric Engineer (Dallas, TX), and Carl Irani (Orlando, FL).

ZANT News - Aug 2009 5

PPPAITISHEM GHAMBAR AAACHIEVEMENTS

Paitishem Gahambar (Fasli Calendar) Celebra Our Mahesh Nasta participated in and completed the Seat- tion (Sept 12 – 16) : tle Rock 'n Roll Marathon on June 27. He ran the grueling 26 mile distance in 5 hrs and 16 minutes. Well done,

Mahesh! Over the last several months Mahesh has done a ZANT is celebrating the “Paitishem Gahambar” on number of runs in the Dallas area and elsewhere, to pre- Sunday, September 20 th , 2009 , from 12:00 pm to pare for the big race. Around 20,000 runners participated 4:00 pm at a venue in Lewisville. (Additional infor- in the Seattle marathon. Nearly 4,000 volunteers joined in mation will be given in the next newsletter). to make the event a success and a large sum was raised for Paitishem Gahambar celebrates the creation the benefit of various charities. The marathon also served as a qualifier for the next Boston marathon. Congratula- “Earth”…….”Harvest Festival”. tions, Mahesh! This Gahambar is a “Khushali Gahambar” sponsored by Behram & Farieda Irani on the auspicious occa- sion of their son Neville’s graduation from college. If you would like to volunteer to prepare a dish for TRAVELER ’’’SSS TALES the Gahambar, please contact Pearl Balsara or Farieda Irani, by August 15, 2009 . ZANT will reim- Tomb Sweeping Day – April 4 2008 Zhuhai, China burse volunteers for all expenses incurred. Shared by: Rustom Jamadar If you are interested in sponsoring/co-sponsoring any April 4 2008 was Tomb Sweeping Day in China, and, for the of the Gahambars, please call Pearl P Balsara. first time, a National Holiday! To enjoy the day off, Deepak and I went over to neighbouring Macau, a short distance away. (Deepak is my colleague from Bengaluru; I am a videsi desi). We trekked to the ruins of St. Paul. The tombs there are protected archaeological sites...they were already swept (probably with a fine brush). After climbing up the adjacent fort, we plotted a route to the Lighthouse on Guia Hill.

St. Michael’s

Along the way, we stopped at St. Michael's Cemetery. It has a OOOURURUR SSSYMPATHIES beautiful chapel with stained glass, and the tombstones are adorned with angels. I never tire of stopping in. Since it was Tomb Sweeping Day, there were a lot of people, and a lot of We would like to inform the community that sadly pretty flowers at the headstones. Needless to say, the tombstones Homayun Yazdani, mother of Meherdad Yazdani, passed away in . Our condolences to the Yaz- there needed no sweeping. I’d have to search some more. dani family. Treasure Hunt

At the base of Guia Hill is the Estrada dos Parses. Alongside is a

Parsee Cemetery; I had come across it a decade ago on my first WWWEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT visit to Macau. I asked Deepak if he would mind us stopping there; he was very agreeable. The cemetery is set in a ravine on On July 19, 2009 Behram and Dinaz Contractor un- a steep hillside, so I peered down. I saw a tin roofed construc- derwent their “Parsi” wedding ceremony in front of tion hut, and my heart sank; I wondered in sadness if the place family and friends. They were delighted to share this had been bulldozed over (The pace of construction in China is special day with their loved ones. unbelievable)

Con’t on next page...

ZANT News - Aug 2009 6

Then, mercifully, we saw several tombs. We wanted to get to them but a tall wall barred our way. We trekked up to the gate along the Estrada. A rusted lock indicated that nobody had visited recently. Luckily, Deepak noticed that someone had just entered the con- struction hut below. We hurried down to ask and the man pointed a way...over a wall, but with a tree stump to step off on the other side. We jumped down and made our way to the large tombs.

Swept away (in Time and in Memorium )

In the true spirit of the day we swept away the twigs and leaves, and deciphered the eroded inscriptions. Carved into the stone slabs, in English and in Gujrati, were virtually identical words such as:

"In Memory of Cursetjee Framjee, Merchant, Resident of Bombay, who departed this earth at Macau, on the 17th Day of March 1829, at age 50"

Oft, the date of the Parsee Yezdegard calendar followed the Roman date.

All fifteen tombs we swept and read. We took no notes, but I seem to recall: the ages ranged from 19 to 55, the years from about 1829 to 1870.

The latest addition was a headstone placed in 1919. It reads

“THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED

TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF

PESTONJEE CAWASJEE DARABSHA SETHNA ESQre

THE FOUNDER OF THE FIRM OF CAWASJEE PALANJEE & CO. OF CHINA

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 18th August 1842

BY HIS DESCENDANTS

31 JULY 1919

Epilogue:

I wonder if the acts of two strangers brought a smile to those interred.

ZANT News - Aug 2009 7

ZANT News - Aug 2009 8

Gatha Days & Humbundagi Prayers : The five Gatha days are dedicated to the recitation of the and remem- brance of our departed ones. If you wish to submit the names of your dear departed family members and friends for inclusion in the Afringan Prayers, please complete and mail the following form to reach Ervad Poras Balsara by August 31, 2008 or you can email him at [email protected] Name of the Deceased Name of His/Her Father/Husband

E O Oi B K ______E O B______

E O Oi B K______E O B______

E O Oi B K______E O B______

E O Oi B K______E O B______

______NAME TEL. NO.

The names of the deceased are always recited together with their father/husband’s name along with their status, i.e. Ervad, Osta, Osti, Behdin or Khurd, as per Zarthusti custom. No Surnames are recited in the prayers.

E = Ervad (male who is /was a Navar) O = Osta ( male from Athornan, or priestly family but not a Navar) Oi = Osti (female from Athornan family) B = Behdin (male/female from Behdin, or non-priestly family) K = Khurd (child whose Navjote has not been performed)

Please complete this form in block letters with the correct status circled for each name, and return to:

Poras Balsara

ZANT News - Aug 2009 9

To: To:

Flower Mound, Texas 75027 75027 Texas Mound, Flower

NEWS NEWS ZANT ZANT NEWS NEWS ZANT ZANT NEWS NEWS ZANT ZANT

NEWS NEWS ZANT ZANT P.O. Box 271117 271117 Box P.O. ZANT ZANT

ZANTZANT NEWSNEWS

A Publication of Zoroastrian Association of North Texas

www.zant.org August 2009

Keep this stub Please detach and return this side Accept my contribution of: for your records . with your contribution payable to: “ZANT" and mail to : ( ) $10 ( ) $20 ( ) $30 ( ) $40 ( ) $50 ( ) $_____ To: ZANT ZANT Treasurer P.O. Box 271117 For: Check # Flower Mound, Texas 75027 Date ( ) General Fund ( ) Building Fund Amount $ ( ) Other ( ) Newsletter

FROM: ______

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” Help us pass on the good religion to future generations .

ZANT News - Aug 2009 10