Most Parsis and Iranians in the USA have risen above their differences and identified themselves as American Zoroastrians
Zenobia B. Panthaki
So it was that after centuries of separation the Parsis and the Iranians met in their new homeland, the USA. Both sets had migrated seeking greener pastures. They established their associations and atash kadehs with enthusiasm. Sadly, the initial euphoria was soon overshadowed by religious and cultural differences. Their trajectories had been shaped by different social and political situations; while the Parsis had it relatively easy, the Iranian Zoroastrians had faced persecution. Only a concerted effort would help establish a symbiotic relationship.
Religious observances differed. The arrangement of implements for a jashan or the manner of recitation could cause friction. The timing of the navjote or sudreh pooshi was sometimes questioned by both parties. While the Parsis performed it pre-puberty, the Iranians performed it when the children were much older with the justification that the new initiates should understand what they were committing to. The same held true for the wedding ceremony. While for the Parsis the prayers are in Pazand, for Iranians the emphasis is on offering advice in Dari on how to lead a life based on the Prophet’s teachings. Over centuries Parsis had abandoned the observance of religious festivals such as Mehergan, Tirgan, Sadeh, Yalda, etc. The Iranians celebrated these with enthusiasm as they could practice their faith openly.
Ervad Behram Panthaki (ext l) conducting prayers at a summer youth camp
Performing sudreh pooshi of six teenagers along with an Iranian priest
Above: Panthaki (2nd from l) at another sudreh pooshi; r: at
Arlington National Cemetery where Col Kurush Bharucha was interred
Rituals too were different. Parsis had incorporated Hindu customs such as the use of coconuts, garlands and the application of tillis (vermilion) on the forehead. The Iranians saw these symbols as alien. Parsis attributed some Iranian customs as being influenced by Islam!
Parsis complained that Iranians spoke in Dari at the drop of a hat and, in the early days, many announcements made in English needed to be translated into Dari. Language is deeply intertwined with culture, and the Iranians have shown determination in keeping it alive. For Parsis, with western education, English became their lingua franca and distanced them from tradition. Gujarati is still used by the older generation, but we now hear more English as GenZ takes over, making the language issue less dichotomous.
By the time my husband Behram and I arrived in Washington DC in 1994, the Parsis and Iranians of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington, Inc (ZAMWI) were in a state of amicable acceptance. The community did not have a priest and the services of two stalwarts from New Jersey, a three-hour drive away, had to be requested. Behram is an ordained priest who had served in the Indian Army for 30 years. He was happy to step in to fill the void, but his knowledge was rusty and he frequently contacted his father in India for guidance. However, he made a conscious effort to integrate and adapt, always going the extra mile to make the Iranians comfortable. He performed the sudreh pooshi for one young lady in the morning and officiated at her wedding the same evening! On another occasion, along with an Iranian mobed, he performed simultaneously the sudreh pooshi of six teenagers from one family. This earned him the epithet of "our soldier priest” from his GenZ patrons!
Another practice that Behram introduced was making the congregation pray along during jashans. He disseminated flyers and, at appropriate points, asked the gathering to join him. Juxtaposed were English translations, so everyone understood the meaning of the prayers. This especially appealed to the youth.
Another binding factor has been the children’s religious class held on alternate Sundays. The focus is not just religion but culture and good practice, manners, respect for elders, not wasting food. The teachers comprise Iranians and Parsis as well as non-Zoroastrian spouses who have studied the faith and practice it. ZAMWI has chosen the course of enlightenment and acceptance.
The community also has reached out by participating in interfaith activities. For the first time in the history of the US Army, a formal military funeral for the late Col Kurush Bharucha was performed by Behram at the Arlington National Cemetery and special permission was granted to emboss an asho farohar on his tombstone.
While some associations in the US did split along Parsi and Iranian lines, most have held together. GenZ does not hark back to the countries of origin. They are American Zoroastrians who will charter their own course and, hopefully, keep the flame alive.