Two women and eight men aged between 24 and 62 years from different cities in Germany and Denmark were initiated as Zoroastrians at a group navjote ceremony at Park Inn Platza Hotel in Berlin on August 17, 2019. Conducted under the auspices of the Norway based Bozorg Bazgasht Organization (BBO), the ceremony was performed by Mobed Kurosh Aryana.
Mobed Kurosh Aryana (top l and above) with new initiates in Berlin
The initiates were from different educational and professional backgrounds — university students, engineers, photographer, information technology manager and doctors — wrote Aryana. They had learnt the "Zoroastrian ideology, theology, history and basic prayers known as Avestaye Bayesteh (in Farsi)” by self-study or under the guidance of Aryana. One couple, who are doctors, came from Denmark whilst the rest of them live in different cities in Germany. When Parsiana asked Aryana why they opted to be Zoroastrians, he responded, "By studying Zoroastrianism, they chose to be Zoroastrians rather than follow their religion of birth.”
BBO is part of Det Norske Zarathushthriske Trossamfunn (Zarathushtrian Association of Norway) whose "goal is to help people all around the world to learn and convert to the Zarathushtrian religion,” states their website bozorgbazgasht.com. Established 15 years ago as "a non-profit organization without any political interest,” they offer "to arrange the conversion service free of charge, no matter where your location is.”