FEZANA JOURNAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA Vol 28 No 4 December / Winter 2014, Zemestan 1383 AY 3752 Z 07 22 34 104 02 Editorial Editor 24 Zoroastrian Rituals in Iran 64 Russia and the Zoroastrians J Mobed Firouzgary Russell 04 Editorial The President 35 Symbolism of the Gurz J 74 Zoroastrians and the Kurds R. 05 Donations Received Choksy Foltz 06 Cover Story: Ritual Implements: 38 New Afarganyu 82 Zoroastrian Acceptance The use of the Sacred Guest Ervad Hathiram D. Mistry Editorial 41 Atash Nu Geet 86 In the News 08 Meaning of Alat S Stewart Ervad Gustad Panthanki 92 Personal Profiles 44 Places of Worship in Iran 12 The Yasna Ceremony Firoza Mobed Firouzgary 94 WZCC SEMINAR Punthakey Mistree 97 Letters to the Editor 53 Silver Bowl 20 Three Religious Apparatus concerning fire Dasturji F.M Qamar Adamjee 102 Milestones and Matrimonials Kotwal 59 Magic in Zoroastrianism 107 Books and Arts Shaul. Shaked Editor in Chief: Dolly Dastoor, editor(@)fezana.org Technical Assistant: Coomi Gazdar Consultant Editor: Lylah M. Alphonse, lmalphonse(@)gmail.com Language Editor: Douglas Lange Photo Editor Bejan Irani 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 Copy editors: Vahishta Canteenwalla, Yasmin Pavri Subscription Managers: Arnavaz Sethna: ahsethna(@)yahoo.com; Kershaw Cover design Feroza Fitch of Lexicongraphics Khumbatta: Arnavaz Sethna(@)yahoo.com See page 53 SPRING 2015 Dae –Behman – Spendarmad 1383- AY (Fasli) North American Zoroastrian Congress Amordad – Shehrever- Meher 1384 AY (Shenshai) SUMMER 2015: Shehrever – Meher – Avan 1384 AY (Kadimi) Transmission of Zarathushti Values Opinions expressed in the FEZANA Journal do not necessarily reflect the viviewsewws off FFEZANAEZANA or mmembersembbers ooff thethhe editorialeddiitoriial bboboard.aardd. 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 4 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 - Winter 2014 A Word from the Editor EditorialEditorial DO WE KNOW OUR RELIGIOUS RITUALS? 2014 is ending on a positive uplifting note of the North American Congress. It took months of hard work by a group of dedicated Zarthushtis to deliver a sold out congress. Bravo. Awards were given to outstanding Zarathushtis of whom you will read in the Spring issue . Through out the year we also had small melodies to soothe our mind and heart The Summer issue of the FEZANA JOURNAL on Zoroastrians of Central Asia whose genesis was our trip to that part of the world gave us some historical and cultural background on the evolution and development of our religion. With renowned academicians contributing, the issue was much in demand with all our copies sold out. We had But the saga of the BPP and the trustees continues, the visit of Dasturji Khurshed Dastur, Kersee Kabraji money disappearing, money found, staff resigning, and Sarah Stewart to enlighten us on the different law suits pending, all making front page news to the aspects of the religion. President Katayun has been embarrassment of the community. working tirelessly promoting the FEZANA strategic plan. Both she and Roshan Rivetna were awarded The winter issue is an extension of the FALL issue the Community Service Award at the Enterprise on Ghambars. In this issue we look at the different Dubai in December. Our vice president Homi rituals, religious and social which we perform and the Gandhi continues to make inroads into the Interfaith religious implements used to perform those rituals. community travelling to Seoul, S. Korea as an invitee It is guest edited by Firoza Punthakey Mistree of of World Alliance of Religions for the Peace Summit. the Everlasting Flame:Zoroastrianism in History Our young Zarathushtis also blaze trails at the UN. and Imagination and Across Oceans and flowing silks, From Canton to Bombay 18th - 20th At the WZCC meeting in Dubai, Zarathushtis of North C….exhibitions fame. In earlier discussions with her it America won all the Global awards for 2014. Edul became apparent that there are many aspects of the Davar of New Jersey won the Entrepreneur of the rituals of which we are not aware. Many of us think Year Award. Nina Godiwalla, the 2014 Professional of a ritual as a mobed sitting and reciting prayers for of the Year Award. Shirin Kumaana-Wadia (a Parsi a jashan or wedding or funeral, some of us consider Khabar co-founder) won the 2014 Young Professional/ it “mumblings”. Some of us are more respectful but Entrepreneur Award. do not understand the significance. So we decided to look into the why and whereofs of the rituals a bit The Washington Dar e Mehr became a reality, and more deeply. We often hear of the word “Alat”,. but do ZAGNY and IZA broke ground for a new Dar e Mehr we know what it means, what it signifies? as the existing premise was getting too small for their growing community. What is a ritual? The broad definition of a ritual is a ceremony or action performed in a customary way. The $1.6 million Government of India Jivo Parsi Your family may have a Sunday lunch ritual of Pizza program has produced some results with their and beer. But that is not the ritual we are exploring. invitro- fertilization program. It has also produced ads The English word Ritual derives from the latin “ritualis” which has had mixed reaction from the community, which pertains to rite, or ritus, (the correct way of especially the women, but I will leave that for you doing things), in Sanskrit rta (visible order) the lawful to judge. At least it got Al Jazeera and Wall Street order of the normal, and therefore proper, natural Journal talking about the Zoroastrians! and true structure of cosmic, The word “ritual” is first recorded in English in 1570, and came into use in the 1600s to mean “the prescribed”. But what makes a 2 FEZANA Journal –Winter 2014 EditorialEditorial ritual sacred, or spiritual? Is it the activity itself ? the Could it be a Muktad bowl? Emeritus Professor location, the purpose. It is probably all three. A ritual Shaul Shaked of Hebrew University talks of Magic in can become sacred when it is performed in a special Zoroastrianism. context and is intended to have a sacred meaning. (adapted from Wikipedia) There are two pieces by Ervad Jehan Bagli and Khojeste Mistree on the bridge between the Ervad Gustad Panthaki sets the tone by describing performance of rituals and spirituality. Does one lead the Yasna ritual and religious implements used, to the other? On a lighter note we talk of the shops Mobed Mehraban Firouzgary describes the religious in Mumbai and Iran which sell sukhad, sapats and ceremonies performed in Iran as well as the places other religious implements. Finally Prof Richard Foltz, of worship. Firooza Panthakey Mistree talks of describes his visit to Kurdish region of Turkey and his the ceremonies performed in India. Dastur Kotwal experiences there with the Yezidis elaborates on the significance of the Holy Fire and Ervad Hathiram describes the making and sanctifying I take this opportunity to wish each and every one of of the Afarganyu. Sarah Stewart follows this with our readers a very happy and heathy 2015 a rendition of the Atash nu Geet. Prof Jamsheed I thank you for your support for without you there will Choksy writes on the symbolism of Gurz (mace) in be no FEZANA JOURNAL. the Zoroastrian religion, Prof. James Russell draws Best wishes the connection between Zoroastrians and Russians. Qamar Adamjee, an associate curator at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco writes about a rare collection of a silver bowl gifted to the Institute. FEZANA Journal –Winter 2014 3 A Message from FEZANA President EditorialEditorial Dear Zarathushtis Greetings and Best Wishes from the FEZANA Family to You and Yours in 2015. Let us begin the New Year with love and understanding towards all Zarathushtis worldwide as well as all humanity and live in peacful harmony. The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) was formed 27 years ago. Its founding principle was that each member association retained its autonomy for its bylaws, rules, guidelines, and customs. It is this local independence that is the cornerstone of the successes and strength of FEZANA. Women and men have equal status in all things religious, cultural, and social where it comes to FEZANA. That is our overarching principle. Individual attend religious classes, learn about their roots and meet associations located continent wide also follow an ethos up at World Zoroastrian Youth Congresses. FEZANA has of inclusion rather than exclusion, with slight variances, always encouraged inclusiveness at all levels, including the some tending to be more liberal, others tending to be more two diverse cultures of Iran and India. Parsi Zarathushtis traditional. celebrate Mehergan and Yalda and other traditionally Iranian festivals and Iranian Zarathushtis join in celebrating As an umbrella organization, FEZANA supports and the Gahambars and Parsi Shahenshai New Year. strengthens these basic principles with programs and activities, all with an eye to inculcating our core religious, FEZANA now consists of 26 member associations and 14 social, and cultural ideals in the generations that grow up here.