Summer/June 2014
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AMORDAD – SHEHREVER- MEHER 1383 AY (SHENSHAI) FEZANA JOURNAL FEZANA TABESTAN 1383 AY 3752 Z VOL. 28, No 2 SUMMER/JUNE 2014 ● SUMMER/JUNE 2014 Tir–Amordad–ShehreverJOUR 1383 AY (Fasli) • Behman–Spendarmad 1383 AY Fravardin 1384 (Shenshai) •N Spendarmad 1383 AY Fravardin–ArdibeheshtAL 1384 AY (Kadimi) Zoroastrians of Central Asia PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA Copyright ©2014 Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America • • With 'Best Compfiments from rrhe Incorporated fJTustees of the Zoroastrian Charity :Funds of :J{ongl(pnffi Canton & Macao • • PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA Vol 28 No 2 June / Summer 2014, Tabestan 1383 AY 3752 Z 92 Zoroastrianism and 90 The Death of Iranian Religions in Yazdegerd III at Merv Ancient Armenia 15 Was Central Asia the Ancient Home of 74 Letters from Sogdian the Aryan Nation & Zoroastrians at the Zoroastrian Religion ? Eastern Crosssroads 02 Editorials 42 Some Reflections on Furniture Of Sogdians And Zoroastrianism in Sogdiana Other Central Asians In 11 FEZANA AGM 2014 - Seattle and Bactria China 13 Zoroastrians of Central 49 Understanding Central 78 Kazakhstan Interfaith Asia Genesis of This Issue Asian Zoroastrianism Activities: Zoroastrian Through Sogdian Art Forms 22 Evidence from Archeology Participation and Art 55 Iranian Themes in the 80 Balkh: The Holy Land Afrasyab Paintings in the 31 Parthian Zoroastrians at Hall of Ambassadors 87 Is There A Zoroastrian Nisa Revival In Present Day 61 The Zoroastrain Bone Tajikistan? 34 "Zoroastrian Traces" In Boxes of Chorasmia and Two Ancient Sites In Sogdiana 98 Treasures of the Silk Road Bactria And Sogdiana: Takhti Sangin And Sarazm 66 Zoroastrian Funerary 102 Personal Profile Beliefs And Practices As Shown On The Tomb 104 Books and Arts Editor in Chief: Dolly Dastoor, editor(@)fezana.org AMORDAD SHEHREVER MEHER 1383 AY (SHENSHAI) FEZANA JOURNAL FEZANA Technical Assistant: Coomi Gazdar TABESTAN 1383 AY 3752 Z VOL. 28, No 2 SUMMER/JUNE 2014 O Consultant Editor: Lylah M. Alphonse, lmalphonse(@)gmail.com SUMMER/JUNE 2014 JOURNAL Tir–Amordad–Shehrever 1383 AY (Fasli) • Behman–Spendarmad 1383 AY Fravardin 1384 (Shenshai) • Spendarmad 1383 AY Fravardin–Ardibehesht 1384 AY (Kadimi) Language Editor: Douglas Lange Zoroastrians of Central Asia Graphic & Layout: Shahrokh Khanizadeh, www.khanizadeh.info Cover design: Feroza Fitch, ffitch(@)lexicongraphics.com Publications Chair: Behram Pastakia bpastakia(@)aol.com Columnists: Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi: rabadis(@)gmail.com; Teenaz Javat: teenazjavat(@)hotmail.com; Mahrukh Motafram: mahrukhm83(@)gmail.com PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA Copy editors: Vahishta Canteenwalla, Yasmin Pavri Copyright ©2014 Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America Subscription Managers: Arnavaz Sethna: ahsethna(@)yahoo.com; Kershaw Shilpiq Dakhma, Photo Jenny Khumbatta: Arnavaz Sethna(@)yahoo.com Rose see page 61 for description FALL 2014 Tir – Amordad –Shehrevar 1383 AY (Fasli) Gahambars: A tradition to perpetuate Behman –Spendarmad 1383 AY Fravardin 1384 AY (Shenshai) Guest Editors Ervad Soli Dastur Spendarmad 1383 AY Fravardin –Ardibehest 1384 AY (Kadmi) and Kayo Mehta Opinions expressed in the FEZANA Journal do not necessarily reflect the viviewsews off FFEZANAEZANA or mmembersembbers ooff ththee ededitorialditoriial bboboard.ard All submissions to the FEZANA JOURNAL become the property of the publication and may be reproduced in any form. Published at Regal Press, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada www.fezana.org FEZANA Journal Vol 28, No 2 ISBN 1068-2376 (USPS 021-495) published quarterly by FEZANA 8615 Meadowbrook Dr., Burr Ridge, IL 60527. Periodical postage rate is paid at Oakbrook, IL 60523 and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription $25 (US) ; $25 (Canada) and $50 (air) for other countries; details on subscription Form. POSTMASTER: send changes to Fezana Journal, 8615 Meadowbrook Drive, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. 1 FEZANA Journal - Summer 2014 A Word from the Editor EditorialEditorial At the Crossroad – Adapt, Adopt or Abandon This is the third colour edition of the FEZANA Journal, each being of archival value for coffee table display. The 25th anniversary issue (2012), I am Cyrus issue (2013) and the Zoroastrians of Central Asia (2014) The focus of this issue is to recreate the history of the Zoroastrians of Central Asia, an overlooked group of people, a group we had not heard of five to seven years ago. For most of us the history of Zoroastrianism is only or mainly associated with Iran. In lacing their story together, it was a very interesting discovery to realize how religious seeds are sown, how they are nurtured, how philosophies, customs and thoughts of neighbouring religions influence each other and get syncretized and how they die. Eduljee sets the stage for the cover story by describing the lands of Airyana Vaejah. We then read in the articles of Judith Lerner, Matteo Comparetti and Wu Xin, wherein they describe the iconography that crept in the Zoroastrian religion as influenced by the Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese philosophies, all at the crossroad of the Silk Route. Jenny Rose tells us of the “Bone Boxes”, the ossuaries to collect the bones of the dead, the plight of a Sogdian immigrant wife, not unlike the stories we read of in 2014; and Jenny Rose also relates the death of the last Sassanian King Yazdegard III. Kersi Shroff infuses the reader with the thrills of discovering and uncovering cultural treasures buried thousands of years ago. Homi Gandhi, Fariborz Rahnamoon and Viraf Soroushian speak of the yearnings, aspiration and indifference of some present day Central Asians to their cultural roots. It was a fascinating exercise to learn of the evolution of the religious concepts, from expression of religious thought in concrete imagery to abstract concepts of the Gathas. Are there any lessons for us to learn ? This special issue of the Journal is a collaborative effort of many people, starting with Dr Jenny Rose, whose help was invaluable at every step, from conception of the cover story, to suggestions of authors, she was generous with her time and knowledge ; Doug Lange our language editor, needs to be thanked for his professional assistance in polishing the language and the images, Aban Rustomji for her skills in locating references, to Shahrokh Khanizadeh for creating the artistic layout and to Feroza Fitch for the design of the pleasing cover, and to our anonymous donor, who believed in us to sponsor this issue. I thank them all. Coming to the Zoroastrians of North America, FEZANA had its elections and all candidates were elected unopposed. Congratulations to all very qualified professionals worthy of leading the organization. We welcome Nilufer Shroff as our Treasurer and Saghar Javanshir Behroozi as the Secretary of FEZANA, Homi Gandhi continues as Vice-president and we wish our Katayun Kapadia, much more success in her second term as president. However what was missing was an healthy competition, we need people to step forward to accept leadership positions and chairmanship of committees to serve the community, We need to thank Shiraz Italia, our outgoing assistant secretary who carried a heavy administrative burden in the absence of a secretary and Ratan Mistry, the out-going treasurer of FEZANA , who served the community very efficiently for four years, we could rely on him to produce the most detailed and accurate reports for any funding activity. Thank you Ratan, we will miss your professionalism and your personable approach to all funding problems. The Journal and the editorial team will miss your able guidance. And you dear loyal readers, have a wonderful summer. Dolly Dastoor 2 FEZANA Journal –Summer 2014 A Message from FEZANA President EditorialEditorial FEZANA 2012-2014 A RETROSPECTIVE AND WAY FORWARD Dear Presidents and Representatives of Member Associations, Corresponding Members, Committee Chairs and fellow Zarathushtis It has been a challenging and thought-provoking journey these past two years since you elected me as President of FEZANA and I would like to reflect on some of the opportunities and creative ideas that were presented to us and the affirmative solutions and initiatives that we continue to support. ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, Inc. (FEZANA) was registered in the State of Illinois on June 2, 1987 as a non-profit, religious and charitable organization. FEZANA comprises 26 Zarathushti member associations and 14 small groups located in U.S.A. and Canada. 1. The present FEZANA Executive comprised of Katayun Kapadia, President; Homi Gandhi, Vice-President; Ratan Mistry, Treasurer; Nahid Dashtaki, Secretary (2012-13), and Shiraz Italia, Assistant Secretary. 2. I welcome Nilufer K. Shroff as FEZANA Treasurer and Saghar Javanshir-Behroozi as FEZANA Secretary for 2014-16. 3. I thank the outgoing FEZANA Treasurer, Ratan Mistry for his proactive, prompt and efficient handling of our requests for information and reimbursements and Assistant Secretary, Shiraz Italia for her services to the FEZANA organization. 4. The six FEZANA Past Presidents have continued to play an active role either as Committee Chairs or lead and participate in FEZANA’s key projects and activities: Rohinton Rivetna – Infrastructure Development in N.A. & Interfaith; Dolly Dastoor – Journal editor-in-chief, Academic Scholarships & Strategic Planning; Framroze Patel – Financial Statements & Filing of Tax