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The nowzooty ceremony of 40-year-old Zoroastrian researcher Mehraban Pouladi on April 21,  2016 was a cause for great celebration in Tehran as after almost 10 years did they witness the initiation of a priest. "Around 200 people gathered to celebrate the event at the Tehran Atash Behram,” writes Ashkan Khosropour in response to Parsiana’s queries. "The ceremony is a very rare one, especially these days, since the number of mobeds” continues to decline.
The new mobed or nowzoot was draped in a green shawl and on his head was a coined and jeweled turban to signify his knowledge and wisdom. In his right hand he carried a metal staff with a rotating blade pinned to one end. The circular motion signified a wish that the ongoing ceremony may continue and the spiritual benefits may radiate throughout the world, explained Mobed Mehraban Firouzgary who along with Mobed Ardeshir Khorshidian, head of the Tehran Mobedan Council presided over the ceremony. Also in attendance were other members of the Council.

 

The mobed who had last been initiated as a priest transferred to Pouladi the pyramidal varsdaar (fastened branches of a pomegranate tree covered by a green cloth) carried on his head. "In this way the holy title and the divine power is passed from the penultimate mobed to the new one through the pyramid of energy,” explains Firouzgary. The rear mirror symbolically reflects the "inner knowledge of the priest” which will be projected on "the frontal mirror through which the world can derive spiritual benefits.”
Pouladi had earlier "opted to cater to and manage the religious needs of community members in Ahwaz,” serving as the region’s mobedyar for 20 years following the demise of their only priest. After relocating to Tehran he was "democratically elected as a member of the board of directors of the Anjoman e Mobedan and as vice president,” states Firouzgary. Unanimously elected for the third time last year, he has been efficiently managing the Avesta related classes conducted by the Anjuman. Over the years, Pouladi has been a member of the Zoroastrian Youth Organisation of Ahwaz and also Anjoman Mobedan of Mazra Village.
A graduate in civil engineering, Pouladi chose to earn his masters in culture and ancient Iranian languages five years ago and has currently submitted his doctorate thesis in the same subject which Firouzgary mentions is "the closest University course available in Iran for the study of Zartoshti religion.” His wife Rozita Aariyaeenejad who delivered a baby girl, Shirin, on May 19, 2016 was originally planning to study Ancient Iranian Languages and Culture too after her postgraduation in biomechanics but has now decided to earn her second masters in agriculture and irrigation.
While Pouladi’s father Keikhosro was a businessman who was not initiated as a priest, his grandfather Dastur Mehraban was a priest who was reportedly killed in 1923 at the age of 44. Popularly known as Arbab Mehraban Poulad, in 1921 he had bought some resorts in Ahwaz under the banner of his company Mazdeyasnan to help Zoroastrians of Yazd live comfortably in another province, states Khosropour.
On the encouragement of his family, some mobeds and a friend, Pouladi chose to continue with the priestly lineage, his great-grandfather being Dastur Poulad, great-great-grandfather Dastur Tirandaz, and great-great-great-grandfather Dastur Bondar. Besides poor monetary returns, another deterrent for the training of mobeds in Iran, according to Khosropour, is their inability to receive higher religious education in other countries. As compared to the last decade, the preceding two decades had seen an average of eight nowzootys per decade, states Firouzgary.