To encourage the participation of younger members of the community, the organizing committee for the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) to be held in Bombay from December 27-30, 2013 has decided to offer a special discounted rate for registration of persons between 16 and 25 years of age. Registration fees for Indian delegates in this age group will now be Rs 5,000 + Rs 618 service charge and for foreign delegates they will be $ 125 + $ 16 as service tax per person. To avail of the discount, which is valid only till July 31, 2013, youngsters will have to send a scanned copy of proof of age to
info@wzcmumbai.com, or courier it to the office of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet at 209 Dr D. N. Road, Fort, Bombay 400001, as mentioned in a press release received over the email by Parsiana. Rates for other Indian delegates are Rs 8,000 + Rs 999 service tax, and for those from abroad are $ 200 + $ 25 service tax until July 31, after which they go up.
Since the WZC is "a forum for discussion on all issues pertaining to the community, including social, economic, cultural and religious… (with) academics and experts from other communities who will share their knowledge and views as in past congresses… it is an open forum.” The organizing committee has, on receiving many queries about whether non-Zoroastrian spouses of Parsi Iranian Zoroastrians and their children can register as delegates, decided that the WZC "should not be exclusionary but be inclusive for all those who have an interest in the community, its affairs and in its future.” In the light of this the organizing committee has decided that non-Zoroastrian spouses and their children (16 years and above) can register as delegates for the 10th WZC, notes the press release.