NEW MANASHNI BANNER Volume 33 Issue 02 - February 2019 MANASHNI SPONSORED BY SETHNA FINANCIAL GROUP LLC, ZARIR J. SETHNA, CLU®, ChFC®, LUTCF® WWW.SETHNAFINANCIALGROUP.COM OFFICE 713-963-4229 SUNDAY SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS PLACE: ZHCC, 8787 W. Airport Blvd., Sunday, February 17, 2019 – Interfaith Event at ZHCC Houston, TX 77071 Sunday, March 10, 2019 – ZAH Annual General Meeting Tel: 713-270-9339 Wednesday, March 20 - Atash Kadeh Opening & Norouz Event TIME: Different timings for each group Saturday, April 6, 2019 – Surviving an Active Shooter Training DATE: February 10, 2019 Sunday, April 14, 2019 – ZAH Annual Carnival after Sunday School SPECIAL EVENT Children's Session INAUGURATING THE FIRST EVER STAND ALONE STRUCTURE - The Sunday School session starts at ATASH KADEH IN NORTH AMERICA 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Middle Group: The Sunday School session at 11.00 a.m. Youth Group: Sarosh Collector, Kaemerz Dotiwalla conduct this session. The Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) proudly announces the grand opening of its new Atash Kadeh. A gala celebration for the opening is scheduled during the Navroze days from March 20 through March 24, 2019. The interesting and exciting program planned for the celebration includes prayer ceremonies, social events and lectures. A High Priest has been invited from India, along with many local and foreign dignitaries. This Atash Kadeh, the first of its kind, is a standalone structure costing over one and a half million dollars that will be inclusive and open to all Zoroastrians, their family members, and friends. Be a part of this landmark event that marks the growth and success of the Zoroastrian North American diaspora. For detailed day by day program, and registration for the events, please use this link and register http://zah.org/news/atash-kadeh-inauguration-and-navroze-funtion/ Please note that for registration and payment, you can take advantage of the all-inclusive package for the 5 days; or choose and pay for only the events that you want to attend. Last date for registration is March 5th or earlier if we reach capacity. Please book early to avoid disappointment for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Considering the huge interest in this event and greater than normal attendance expected, we would prefer NO WALK-INS for the Saturday rd March 23 Gala Evening event. If you are registering on-line and paying by check please mail in your checks by March 5th or bring it to the AGM on Sunday March 10th to confirm your booking. You can now also pay with your Credit Card without having a PayPal account. Just do the following: 1. After you finish filling all the info on the website, click “Paypal checkout”. 2. This will redirect you to the PayPal log in screen 3. On this screen at the bottom there’s a grey button that says “Pay with Debit or Credit Card” 4. Click that button, fill in your credit card info (which we don’t save), click “Pay now” and you are done! If you have any questions or do not have access to online registration, you may register by contacting Arzin Italia at 713-679-4998 or by email [email protected] Prior to formal inauguration, the Atash Kadeh Committee invites: Invitation Welcome to “Your Atash KAdeh” Prior to the opening we invite our community members to view “Your Atash Kadeh & Feedback” Open House Days - Attend any of the following days February 10, Sunday – 12:30PM February 16, Saturday – noon February 24, Sunday – Noon March 3, Sunday – Noon March 10, Sunday – noon (Prior to General Body meeting) Program: Noon to 12:45 PM - Open house at the Atash Kadeh 2:50 PM - Atash Kadeh Presentation EXE REPORTS EC MEMBERS 2018 LIBRARY COMMITTEE REPORT Daroga, Lyla By Yasmin Pavri Dungor, Nozer Upcoming Library Event – March 22, 2019 Haveliwala, Sheroy – Chairman In conjunction with the multi-day ceremonies to inaugurate the Atash Katrak, Jasmine Kadeh, the library committee will host the events on the evening of March Sethna, Sweta 22. The program kicks off at 6:30 with a wine and cheese soirée. As you Khumbatta, Mitra – Treasurer enjoy the refreshments, take a walk “Down Memory Lane”, an exhibit Master, Percy – Secretary curated by our very talented exhibit committee. The program includes a talk Mistry, Jangoo – ZAH Representative to by Vada Dastur Khurshed Dastur on “Zarathushti Way of Life in Today’s FEZANA World” and will end with a Persian Dinner. Please go to http://zah.org/events/atash-kadeh-inauguration-and-navroze-funtion/ to YOUTH GROUP OFFICERS register for this and other events. 2018 - 2019 Visions of Paradise – MFAH Tour Review Sidhwa, Yazad – President Vehishta Kaikobad has led our ZAH members on a number of delightful Mistry, Cyrus – Vice President tours to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH) and once again we were treated Italia, Zara – Treasurer to a high-energy visit, filled with lots of information and hidden insights. Mehta, Natalya – Secretary Thirty of us attended a lecture and PPT presentation that preceded the Hormuzdi, Dina – Historian actual visit to the exhibit Garden Paradise: The Magnificent Safavid Carpet Master, Zubin – Web Master from the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. To set the mood, all of us were treated to Turkish delight, pistachios and grapes. The youngest members MIDDLE GROUP OFFICERS were Rayomand Collector’s children. 2018 – 2019 Vehishta gave a historical perspective of the Achaemenians who were Italia, Zal – President builders of large palaces with engineering skills and love of flora and fauna Kanga, Neville – Vice President and continued her pictorial journey to the Parthians, Sasanians and the Chikhliwala, Roshni – Secretary Islamic caliphate highlighting the profound Kanga, Natasha – Treasurer influence on the rest of the world. Next came the Dungor, Natasha – Historian historical overview of the Persian carpet, which dated back 2500 years ago. The Iranians were OUR ERVADS (PRIESTS) the pioneer carpet weavers and the art of weaving was passed along from father to son, an Boomla, Noozar art that was a closely guarded secret. Buchia, Kyrus Dastur, Barjor The group then went to see the Magnificent Dastur, Darius Safavid Carpet, which was filled with the flora Desai, Adi and fauna beloved by the Persians. Fish and ducks swimming in H-shaped Desai, Farokh channels of water, were surrounded by plants, butterflies and many Firozgary, Bahrom different animals. As Susie Tommaney wrote in the Houston Press: “To Gonda, Pervez create an intricate carpet with straight lines is task enough, but this Kanga, Neville elaborate carpet is full of all sorts of curves and rounded shapes, making Katrak, Rayomand the design all that more difficult to execute. Each color change called for the Katrak, Vispi P. knotting of a different colored thread, an infinitely slow and laborious Khumbatta, Noshir technique that yielded slightly imperfect edges but an exquisite finished Kotwal, Zubin product. There are 224 asymmetrical knots per square inch and the carpet Masani, Dara measures a little more than 170 inches by 209 inches, making a project like Nariman, Khushrav this the non-digital precursor to modern-day programming.” Nariman, Viraf Pavri, Shapur The room also had some other very beautiful items from the collection of Pundole, Faraidoon Kuwait-based collector Hossein Afshar. They Rashidi, Farhood included ceramics, metalwork, painting and book Sanjana, Bahmanshah folios that illustrate the abundance of nature- Sanjana, Kurush based imagery in Islamic art. Sidhwa, Kayomarz Sidhwa, Maneck The most interesting information isn’t on the Sidhwa, Yazad museum plaques but in the hidden insights, Unwalla, Peshotan masterfully related by Vehishta. We thank Vimadalal, Freyaan Vehishta for generously sharing her expertise and time with us. YOUTH GROUP REPORT MEMBERSHIP DUES By Dina Hormuzdi CATEGORY AND RATES In January, we went on a camping trip at Martin Dies Jr. The camping grounds we chose contained many exciting activities such as Fishing, hiking, biking, Patron Family Membership $500 and, canoeing/kayaking. Five members of our youth group went and slept in Patron Single Membership $250 the cabins. We hope to do it again because it was a successful trip. Patron Senior Family M’brshp $250 In February, this month, we have a college planning session with Mr. Shiroy Patron Senior Single M’brshp $125 Aspandiar. He will go over some more questions we have about college and how to strive to get into some of our amazing state schools. Family Membership $275 Family Senior Membership $ 65 Next month, in March, we will be going to the food bank and volunteering in the kitchen or the pantry. We will send out an rsvp soon so please make sure Associate Membership $275 to come! Single Membership $135 Z CAMP - SAVE THE DATE Single M’ber Head of Hshold $150 Single Senior Membership $ 40 The annual Z-Camp is scheduled for - July 26th to 28th 2019. Pertinent details regarding registration, etc. will follow so please plan your vacations / Student Membership $ 25 trips accordingly so the kids don't miss out on the fun. This year some new activities are being planned so stay tuned and watch this space..... Manashni Surcharge $ 15 MISCELLANEOUS For Printed/Mailed copies MEMBERSHIP 2019 Definition of Categories BECOME A MEMBER TODAY - Take advantage of reduced rates for events and support ZAH! Family Member Parents and their children under 18 To renew your membership for 2019 online, click HERE [PressControl and Click at the same time] Family Senior Member One spouse is over the age of 65 Please make sure that you select the correct category. For e.g. All married couples, even without children need to opt for Family membership and not Single Member Single membership. Unmarried individual over age 18 To become a new member please contact Percy M.