Devotees from different corners of the world, many with heads dutifully covered, joined in virtual prayers for the jashan on March 20, 2021 seeking divine blessings for the preparations for the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress in New York City from July 1 to 4, 2022. In addition to those who had logged in from nearly 225 electronic gadgets, a few members of the community were present at the jashan that was performed at the Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr in New York and livestreamed over Zoom soon after the onset of Navroz.
Heralding the New Year, "as hopefully the beginning of the end of the pandemic,” Congress co-chair Astad Clubwala remarked, "We Zarathushtis are spread over the world and it may not be long before there are more Zarathushtis in the diaspora than in the mother countries.” He hoped the exchange of ideas at the Congress will help the next generation move forward while retaining their identity.
Top: Prayers for the World Zoroastrian Congress;
above: haft seen table at the Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr in New York
"Let us all emerge more caring, more compassionate, strong and healthy and count our blessings on this auspicious day,” stated Arzan Wadia, Congress co-chair and president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America when conveying Navroz greetings on behalf of the 25,000 Zarathushtis in USA and Canada.
"May the beauty of spring bring renewed hope into our lives,” stated Khursheed Navder, president of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York from the Dar-e-Mehr premises while a recorded message from Shirin Khosravi, president of the Iranian Zoroastrian Association, expressed a fervent wish to "soon go back to our beautiful Dar-e- Mehr.”
Prior to the jashan, recorded benedictions from senior and junior priests from across the continents were relayed to the congregation. The eldest priest was Mobed Mehraban Firouzgary from Tehran, Iran and the youngest were school going brothers Ervads Ushaan and Fravash Turel from Hong Kong. Other priests who also prayed for the success of the Congress were Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada, Ervad Arda-E-Viraf Minocherhomjee, president of the North American Mobeds Council, Ervad Yazad Bhadha, representing the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE), and Ervads Jimmy and Fali Madon, the World Zoroastrian Organisation, and the father-son team of Ervads Percy and Zahan Madon from Sydney, Australia. Each of them recited a prayer and gave its explanation in English. The jashan was performed by Ervads Adi Sidhwa, Karl Khambatta, Adil Antia, Xerxes Antia and Cyrus Pavri and Mobedyar Khurshid Mehta.
The ashodad to the ZAGNY priests was courtesy the Ghadiali family with the items for the jashan ceremony contributed by the Bansal family and Sheroo Kanga preparing and donating the delicious malido. An appeal on the occasion sought a "goodwill” contribution of USD 101 (Rs 7,307), or any other amount, towards WZC 2022.”