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Organizing its first gahanbar celebration since the onset of Navroz this year, over 225 men, women and children participated in the function organized by the Zoroastrian Association of Victoria (ZAV) on May 29. The event saw "one of the highest attendances in Melbourne,” Sharmin Avari, chair of the Events Committee responded to queries from Parsiana. As she further mentioned, the ZAV committee prefers to organize a celebration when a gahanbar falls on a weekend which happened in the case of Maidyarem Gahanbar (traditionally mid-winter for Melbourne in the southern hemisphere) this year. Both members and non-members are invited to all their events.
To reinforce the spirit of giving, or hvarshta associated with a gahanbar, AUD 1,520.5 (Rs 82,935) were raised on the day for the Bai Dosibai Kotwal Parsi Orphanage in Navsari. ZAV requested attendees who were not carrying cash to transfer funds electronically to the ZAV account until June 20, 2022. While another AUD 1,000 (Rs 54,544) have already come to the ZAV account, the committee was hoping that more funds would follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the membership of the organization constituted 310 individuals in 2016 and has declined to 95 currently (28 individuals and 67 families) a special membership promotional drive was undertaken on May 29. The membership count had fallen during the pandemic despite ZAV organizing online events like bingo, trivia night, question-answers with former cricketer Farokh Engineer, muktad and Friday night prayers as also Sunday School classes. The Friday night prayers which generally see attendance from around 25 individuals with a few more joining online were introduced by Ervad Kaivan Antia. "His aim was to try and introduce an agiary-like atmosphere for the community and also to try and show the youth and younger generation how we pray in front of an atash,” stated Avari. Over the years repeated efforts have been made to acquire their own property but "fundraising continues to be a challenge,” she admitted. Currently ZAV president Khurshed Mirza permits religious activities to be conducted at his small commercial unit.
"The Zoroastrian community in Victoria continues to flourish from its humble beginnings when the first Parsi family (from Bombay) settled here in 1956. Since then, the community has grown quite large and has an active presence in Melbourne. ZAV is now almost 34 years old,” according to the Association website, zav.org.au. "Within the state of Victoria, ZAV is an essential resource that connects the community and organizes a plethora of events for not just Zoroastrians but the surrounding local community as well. From New Year events to Christmas functions, from Amazing Races to Trivia Nights, from jashans to the traditional gahanbars, there is something for everyone. This not only helps to provide our community with a platform to keep our traditions alive, but also helps us to give back to the wider community that we are a part of, through charitable donations and community work.​ Living up to the Australian philosophy of multi-culturalism, Zoroastrians practice religious tolerance, respect for all, and recognize our duty and responsibility to Australia. We welcome you all to our community with open arms and we look forward to tons of majha (fun) and masti (mischief),” adds the website.
The present ZAV committee comprises Mirza, vice president Narius Sethna, treasurer Mahazarin Amalsadiwalla, secretary Sherin Vazifdar, with Avari and her Events Committee members Nisha Mistry and Jal Mehta, chair of the Seniors Committee Delshad Khadiwala and her fellow members Maharukh Billimoria and Roda Namdarian, chair of the Religious and Cultural Committee Antia and his co-members Adil Dubash and Diana Irani.
"In Melbourne, the entire ZAV committee is made up of volunteers and so are the chefs Farzana and Marazban Avari who offered to make delicious chicken curry chawal and sev” for the gahanbar celebration in May, mentioned Sharmin.