Does the Emirates Parsis Working Group (EPWG) turn 50 in 2019? Many of the Zoroastrians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gathered on Jamshedi Navroz, March 21, 2019 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, believe so. As many as 250 Zoroastrians attended the dinner-games-dance event, far more than last year’s count.
The evening started off with a rendition of the popular Parsi anthem, Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti, and a minute’s silence in remembrance of the late entrepreneur and long-time Dubai resident Noshir Motiwala who passed away recently. Many adults and children keenly took part in the games to bag the several prizes on offer. Before the sumptuous buffet was thrown open, there was a screening of Zarathushtra: The Story of His Life, an absorbing film produced by Meher Bhesania, Middle East representative on the Global Working Group. An audience quiz on the docu-drama, directed by veteran filmmaker Adi Pocha of Bombay, followed.
As always, the raffle draw was a big attraction with several sponsors, including Nargish and Hoshedar Khambatta, pitching in with prizes which included wine bottles, gift hampers and coupons. The evening was graced by Emirates airline’s corporate sales manager Mohammed Al Hashemi who picked the winning raffle token — a return ticket to India/Pakistan, sponsored by Emirates, for lucky high school student Danesh Sutaria.
At the Navroz function in Dubai (clockwise from top): Hoshedar Cooper, Kersy and Meher Bhesania, Firdaus Irani
and Cyrus Debara; Mohammed Al Hashemi; enthusiastic participants Photos: Hoshedar Cooper; at the Family Fun Day:
lined up for a relay; art competition for children Photos: Firdaus Irani
The occasion also saw World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce Middle East (WZCCME) youth director Cyrus Debara being given the Community Service Award "in appreciation of his outstanding and dedicated service to the WZCC Dubai chapter and to the people in our community.” It was a bitter-sweet end to the festivities as Debara — always an enthusiastic master of ceremonies at almost all Zoroastrian functions — bid Ma’a salama (Arabic word for goodbye that literally means ‘may peace be with you’) to Dubai after 17 years.
This was the second community gathering for the Zoroastrians of Dubai in the same month. On March 1, the Dubai chapter of WZCCME organized a Family Fun Day at Zabeel Park in the heart of the city when 40 Zoroastrians came together for five enjoyable hours of sports, games, activities and competitions – and, of course, some mouth-watering food. Planned for the second successive year, it was a roaring success like last year. "We wanted the elderly and the young to come together and mix, make new friends and get to know new faces,” explained Firdaus Irani, Dubai chapter chair.
The morning saw a breakfast menu of akoori pav, paneer bhurji and cutting chai before separate games and activities were held for adults and children. Like last year, the teams and captains were selected by WZCCME. A Navroz sticker competition was specially organized for the children. The day ended with a hearty lunch of chicken pulao, farcha, bhindi masala, veg pulao, gunpowder potato wedges, raita and kachubar. Café Funkie Town, the Bombay Parsi Café, took care of the adult menu while Dubai foodie residents Goolcher Navdar catered the kiddie breakfast and Penaz Bardoli Virji the kids’ lunch. A windy morning with a light drizzle failed to play spoilsport. In fact, "it was perfect weather for a picnic in the park,” smiled Irani.