Firdowsi, the immortal bard of Iran wrote in his epic the Shahnameh: "During the reign of Shah Jamshed both father and son looked alike, were healthy and lived long lives. Man’s diet was vegetarian. Ahriman, the devil, tempted Zohaak to eat flesh and he became evil.”
Ervad (Dr) Peshotan Peer wrote a series of 24 articles in Gujarati in Jam-e-Jamshed on "Vegetarianism from the Zoroastrian religious point of view.” These were later translated into English by me and published in the form of a book by his son Ervad (Dr) Rooyintan Peer. Peshotan wrote in his articles that Cyrus the Great was a vegetarian, and his army was too.
The Parsee Vegetarian and Temperance Society was founded over a century ago in Bombay to popularize vegetarianism in the Parsi Zoroastrian community. It arranges vegetarian gahanbars regularly at Dadysett Atash Behram. It has published various books, including Shaak Paak Pakvan Pothi (Pure vegetarian cookery book), a book of delicious vegetarian recipes. Ervad Minocher C. Rao authored a book, Jarthosti Dharam ane Janvari Khorak (The Zoroastrian religion and non-vegetarian diet). Another book is titled Jarthosti Dharamma Maas Khavanee Manai (The Zoroastrian religion and its ban on eating meat). Maj Sorab Rustomji Bamji wrote a book titled Bahman Ameshaspandni Khushnoodi Thao (Pleasing Bahman Ameshspand) under the pen name, Mazdayasni, with a small chapter for each of the 30 days of Bahman mah. This book has been translated by me and published by Hanoz Patel under the title Thoughts for the month of Bahman.
The Bombay Zoroastrian Jashan Committee, founded in the early 1900s organizes an annual function at Allbless Baug during Bahman mah. It invites a guest speaker and Parsi students from various Parsi schools. A sumptuous vegetarian lunch is served. This year the function was scheduled for Sunday July 7, 2019, with a jashan at 10 a.m. followed by speeches and a contributory lunch. One of the founders of this Jashan Committee was the late advocate of vegetarianism Jehangirji Vimadalal.
In the book Food and Character by Samuel Hopgood Hart, published by The Bombay Humanitarian League in memory of the late J. J. Vimadalal, is the following moving tribute: "The well-known Parsi humanitarian and an inspired servant of humanity whose sole mission in life was to advocate vegetarianism and justice, love and mercy to the dumb creatures. One of his devoted admirers, a noble Parsi lady residing at Jogeshwari, Bombay donated the cost of this publication which is offered as a free gift in memory of the great Parsi humanitarian. Peace be to his soul. Blessed be the donor and the readers who give up (a) flesh diet.”