Song, music and an interactive exhibition of what the children are taught in their religious classes marked the 30th year of The Farohars, the young Zoroastrians’ group in Delhi. The event was celebrated on Navroz, August 17, 2019 at the Delhi Parsi Anjuman’s (DPA) auditorium with a jashan in the morning and a maachi before the evening function. The Farohars’ classes focus on celebrating the paravs, highlighting the core beliefs of our religion, care for the environment and respect for all living beings. Interactive teaching methods like learn-and-work with your hands, computer-based presentations and audiovisual learning have been incorporated.
"Let us encourage them today by visiting their exhibition of posters, charts, hear their explanation of ceremonies, information on fire temples and see their displays of traditional clothes and items,” DPA president Ava Khullar urged the audience. Children regaled the audience with popular monajats, humorous songs and songs created in-house to teach them the basics of the religion.
(Top) Delhi children celebrating the 30th year of The Farohars;
(r) Rukshana Shroff; (far r) Kerman Mehta Photos: Navroz Behramfram
"This 30th year will be marked by collecting funds for disadvantaged children, providing hearing aids to children and welfare of stray animals. Our children have designed cards for sale,” The Farohars’ co-founder Rukshana Shroff stated. In the past, The Farohars have raised funds for orphanages in Navsari and Surat. Shroff and co-founder Kerman Mehta were felicitated as were Ervads Cawas Bagli and Dinyar Karkaria and fire temple worker Behram Patel. Past Farohar students read out congratulatory messages while the "Dad’s group” of the current Farohars presented mementos to Shroff and Mehta.
Commenting that "today’s Farohar group includes children of our founder Farohar members,” Shroff acknowledged the guidance of "original teachers” Pilloo Jungalwalla, Dr Shernaz Cama and Sabar Havewala; the support from the DPA and Niloufer Shroff; Dhun Bagli for suggesting the name Farohars; "the parents and grandparents of the Farohar children who have sacrificed Saturday siestas to travel on this journey.”
"We are one of the most forward looking anjumans. But in this euphoria, we must also be grateful that we are torchbearers of a faith, so lofty in its vision that encompasses not only the good of mankind, but of the whole universe as its subject of worship and caring,” emphasized Khullar, asking the audience to be mindful of the environment for "harming the elements amounts to disrespect for the Amesha Spentas.” Feroza C. Jassawala