Following the inauguration of their Dar-e-Mehr 15 months ago, the Sacramento Zoroastrian Association (SZA) opened the doors of their community hall at the 10,000 sq ft Sacramento Zoroastrian Center on June 30, 2018. Nearly 250 Zoroastrians and well-wishers from the greater Sacramento area as well as the San Francisco Bay Area "gathered in jubilation” in the city suburb of Rancho Cordova, California, in anticipation of the new Center serving as an "energizing and unifying hub,” noted a write-up by Darius Captain, founder member of SZA.
Top and above: Newly inaugurated Sacramento Zoroastrian Center serves as a unifying hub
Sacramento Zoroastrian Association members (from l): Mehry Azadegan, SimaSamoa Jahani,
Mahnaz Oshidari, Parvin Bozorgchami, Mehfar Behdinan-Sorab, Siranoosh Ashtari-Qmarsi,
Farin Namdari-Teymouri; inset: Manijeh Behziz
The hall that has been given an occupancy permit of 406 persons was painstakingly decorated for the occasion by the lady members with the circular tables bearing silver grey table cloths on which were placed striking floral arrangements in orange and white to symbolize the colors of fire and purity. A counter overflowed with a large selection of home-made Persian cookies, mounds of fresh California fruits and dry fruits. There was an open bar as well.
The Center and the Dar-e-Mehr lying at a distance of 15 feet, the celebrations started with a jashan at the Dar-e-Mehr by Ervad Kobad Jamshed from the San Francisco Bay area. In her welcome speech, SZA president Manijeh Behziz thanked volunteers who worked relentlessly for over a year to get the Center functional. The guests were shown a short video on the different stages of the hall construction.
Homi Gandhi, president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), congratulated SZA, the youngest member of FEZANA that had joined the fraternity in 2015. Commending the "Zarathushti spirit” of the SZA board of directors, members and donors, Gandhi appreciated this group of Zarathushtis from Iran that has been growing with perseverance and support. "This is a journey of joy, happiness, camaraderie of a small organization whose members, young and old, men and women, worked hand in hand to create the facilities they needed for their community. FEZANA is very proud of this story… This is a model community,” he added. There are nearly 15 Zoroastrian associations in North America that have dar-e-mehrs or community centers with prayer halls, according to a list supplied to Parsiana by Roshan Rivetna.
Built at a cost of $ 550,000 (Rs 3,77,43,684), donors contributed $ 285,737 (Rs 1,97,11,567) for the SZA Center and a further sum of $ 350,000 (Rs 2,41,44,750) was borrowed for 18 months at no interest (see "Sanctified in Sacramento,” Parsiana, April 21, 2017).
The newly constructed dais was later used for a musical presentation and a cultural dance. A live Persian band kept the guests dancing and celebrating late into the night. A Persian banquet dinner was also enjoyed by the gathering.
Besides Behziz the other office bearers of the Association for the year 2017-18 are vice president Khodadad Pashutanizadeh, secretary Anahita Azarkeyvan, treasurer Farzin Jahani with the board of directors including Behrouz Sohrabi, Darab Bozorgchami and Sima Mehrshahi. This organization’s goal is to assist nearly 100 Zoroastrian families in the Sacramento area "to adapt and integrate into the US society in the best way possible while preserving the Zoroastrian culture and language through programs, activities and services that are in full compliance with the teachings of Zoroaster and within the boundaries of those beliefs. This will lead to raising generations of Zoroastrians who are connected to their roots while being productive citizens within our society,” notes their website sacza.org