FEZANA is thrilled to share momentous news with you! The vibrant tradition of Sadeh, our cherished mid-winter festival, has officially been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity!

This prestigious recognition is a testament to the enduring legacy of Sadeh, a celebration that transcends borders and unites Zoroastrians around the world. From the joyous crackling of bonfires to the heartwarming communal feasts, Sadeh embodies our shared values of resilience, hope, and the triumphant return of spring.

To learn more about this significant achievement and delve deeper into the rich history and customs of Sadeh, we invite you to explore the following resources:

UNESCO Inscription Page: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/sadeh-sada-celebration-01713

As we rejoice in this collective victory, we encourage you to share your own Sadeh celebrations with the world! Tag @FEZANA on your social media posts featuring photos and videos. We will be actively reposting and amplifying your voices, showcasing the diverse and vibrant ways our global community honors this ancient tradition.

Additionally, feel free to directly message our social media accounts with your contributions – we'd love to feature them prominently!

With warmest regards and Happy Sadeh,

Cody K. Partovi

FEZANA Secretary

FEZANA is happy to announce that applications are open for the 2nd edition of the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum.

Below is an announcement received from Sanaya Master who is the WZYLF 2.0 Coordinator. She also serves as Co-Chair on the Welfare and Unity Committee of FEZANA.

World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum 2.0: Empowering Future Leaders

We are thrilled to announce the much-anticipated launch of the second edition of the World Zoroastrian Youth Leaders Forum (WZYLF 2.0). Set to take place from May 24th to June 2nd, 2024, this exclusive event will bring together 25 dynamic young Zoroastrian leaders at the renowned ASHA Centre in the heart of the picturesque Gloucestershire, England.

Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of Gloucestershire, the ASHA Centre stands as a sanctuary for personal growth and innovative thinking. What sets ASHA apart is its unique approach to education, emphasizing a holistic model that engages the head, heart, and hands in creative problem-solving. This distinctive methodology fosters a deeper understanding of complex issues and encourages participants to explore solutions through various perspectives.

Building on the success of our inaugural forum, WZYLF 2.0 aims to continue nurturing the leadership potential of young Zoroastrians who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement and a passion for shaping the future of Zoroastrianism.

This carefully curated event is an invitation-only platform that offers a unique opportunity for emerging leaders to collaborate, exchange ideas, and envision innovative projects in a supportive environment.

The impact of previous WZYLF participants on the global Zoroastrian community has been nothing short of extraordinary. These young leaders, after their participation in the forum, have embarked on remarkable endeavors, holding leadership positions in prestigious organizations, initiating impactful projects, hosting global conferences, and actively participating in crucial global events. Their remarkable journey post-forum is a testament to the transformative power of this gathering and the potential it ignites within its participants.

At WZYLF 2.0, participants can anticipate an immersive and dynamic experience comprising engaging workshops, mentorship opportunities, and interesting field trips to historically significant sites such as Oxford University, Ruskin Mill, and Stratford-upon-Avon. Embracing ASHA's distinctive holistic approach to learning, the program aims to nurture leadership qualities, ignite innovative thinking, and cultivate a shared vision for a more promising future within the Zoroastrian community.

If you are interested in this transformative opportunity or wish to learn more about the event, application process and cost of attending, please visit https://wzylf.com or contact us at contact@wzylf.com.

WZYLF 2.0 is not just a forum; it's a stepping stone for young Zoroastrian leaders to envision, collaborate, and lead the way towards a vibrant future for our community. Join us in this exciting journey of leadership, collaboration, and positive change.

Apply Now

FEZANA is pleased to announce to announce the release of ‘Iranshah A Legacy Restored’, a book about the heritage restoration of the Iranshah Ātash Behram. Published by Shapoorji Pallonji, the book is sold exclusively by FEZANA in North America, for anyone interested in exploring a volume of visuals, scripted with a narrative on Zoroastrian heritage. Through an exclusive collaboration with the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, FEZANA has procured a limited quantity of these books to be shipped out of our headquarters in Chicago to addresses in the United States and Canada only.

Iranshah: A Legacy Restored

The book captures the extensive structural restoration by Shapoorji Pallonji, of the Fire Temple and buildings in its campus, recording work as it unfolded, revealing discoveries of interventions to the structures and the process for conservation of the art and antiquity. Along with technical details, the book also gives a glimpse of life in the sleepy coastal town of Udwada, the significance of a consecrated fire, a brief introduction of the Zoroastrian religion and glances at the cultural practices of a community that has made India their home for the last 1,300 years, “The restoration of the Ātash Behram is in gratitude to the legacies our priests have preserved, and the book is a tribute to everyone who has toiled on this restoration project,” says Shapoor Mistry, Chairman, Shapoorji Pallonji And Company Pvt Ltd. This Fire Temple is the house of the most revered, oldest and continuously burning fire, consecrated 1,300 years ago, and is the principal place of worship of the Parsi, Irani Zoroastrian faith and community. The Iranshah Ātash Behram building was constructed 130 years ago and consecrated on 31st October 1894, in Udwada, a town within the state of Gujarat, in India. The publishers are grateful for the valuable support we received from scholars of Zoroastrianism to make this book an insightful volume for posterity. And many skills and much enthusiasm was found within our teams at Shapoorji Pallonji, to take this book from conceptualization, to writing and designing, to production and publishing. The book is priced at US $50 for shipping to United States and US $70 for shipping to Canada. Please allow 10-15 days for shipping. LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE BUY NOW

Join us for ZYNA’s annual retreat in beautiful Vancouver during the February Long Weekend of 2024! From 6 pm PST on Friday, February 16th to 11 am Monday, February 19th, 2024, Zoroastrian Youth of North America aged 15-35* are invited for a weekend full of community building, connection, and cultural engagement! The focus of this long weekend event is to empower and engage the youth of today to become the leaders of tomorrow. There are limited slots available and once we reach capacity, we will open up a wait-list.

REGISTRATION START AT USD 150
Inclusive of 3-night hotel accommodation, transportation during the events, and most meals throughout the weekend.

• USD 150 for a Quad occupancy room 
• USD 250 for a Double occupancy room 
• USD 450 for Single occupancy room 

Registrants will be required to provide their transportation to the hotel located in Burnaby, British Columbia. Registrants are recommended to fly into YVR by the afternoon of Friday, February 16th, as events will begin by 6 pm PST. 

Register by January 15th, 2024

No Partial Registrations – No Cancellations 

*Parental consent would be required for those under the age of 18.

More details about the schedule and activities coming soon. 

Excited to see you all in Vancouver!

Farzin Avari, Kimiya Shahzadi & Anaheez Karbhari

ZYNA Co-Chairs 

For any questions or concerns reach out to us at youth@fezana.org

Register Now

On the fourth episode Prof. Vevaina welcomes Dr. Mariano Errichiello, the Shapoorji Pallonji Lecturer of Zoroastrianism, Co-Chair and Executive Director of the Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies at SOAS.

Dr. Mariano Errichiello is a scholar of Zoroastrianism with an interest in history, texts, and communities of the modern period. He did his PhD at SOAS, University of London on the social history of Zoroastrianism in modern India. He has presented his research in international conferences in Asia, Europe, and the US earning two Honourable mentions by the Ancient India & Iran Trust (AIIT) and the Early Career Prize by the Association for the Study of Persianate Societies and the Journal of Persianate Studies.

Mariano has been a Resident Fellow of the Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations and Spiritualities at Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, and a Research Fellow of the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies at the University of Copenhagen. In 2022, he joined the Centre for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany as a Postdoctoral Fellow. His recent work focused on Parsi studies, esotericism, and ritual performance.

In September 2023, he was appointed as the Shapoorji Pallonji Lecturer of Zoroastrianism, Co-Chair and Executive Director of the Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies at SOAS.

Recordings of past Conversations are available here:
https://fezana.org/conversations/

"Zoroastrian Conversations" is envisioned to be a Charlie Rose-style interview show that would feature Yuhan Sohrab-Dinshaw Vevaina (Bahari Associate Professor of Sasanian Studies and Fellow of Wolfson College at the University of Oxford) interviewing academics from around the world working on Zoroastrian and Parsi Studies, the history, languages, and cultures of early Iran and cognate disciplines.

The interviews would be conducted on Zoom and moderated by FEZANA and would serve the function of introducing the global Zoroastrian communities to the most respected and up-and-coming scholars working in these fields.

These ‘Zoroastrian Conversations’ would also serve as a forum for community members to learn about the research and teaching being undertaken by professional academics and would serve the purpose of both public engagement and education.

The central premise would be an informal chat, perhaps every two months, where the scholar chatting with Prof. Vevaina could tell us a bit about their background, entrance into the field, their research interests, things they find fascinating about Zoroastrianism and Zoroastrian communities and their wish lists for what projects they would like to undertake in the future.

The two new hires in North America at the University of Toronto and UC Irvine have agreed to participate and such a forum would allow Zoroastrians the world over to listen to and learn from our newest professors and many other speakers from all over the world in the months to come.

Join on Zoom

FEZANA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Zoroastrian Conversations: Mariano 
Time: Dec 9, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 885 9245 3913
Passcode: FEZANA

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OZCF Gala Raises a Phenomenal $868,000  for Atashkadeh  Construction – Our Time is Now

In a dazzling display of community spirit, the Ontario Zoroastrian Community Foundation (OZCF) hosted a spectacular gala on November 11, 2023, at the Mississauga Convention Centre to celebrate the ongoing construction of our consecrated Atashkadeh and future Atash-e-Adaran fire temple. This historic evening, attended by nearly 500 enthusiastic guests, marked a monumental fundraising success, generating an impressive $868,000.

Meticulously organized by our dedicated volunteers, the gala was hosted by our young and dynamic emcees, Xarius Jasavala and Aiden Silliphant, featured live and silent auctions and a live band. The night began with a Remembrance Day tribute, followed by the National Anthem sung by Shanaya Patel and heartfelt Din-no-Kalmo prayer recited by young mobeds, before dinner was served and the live auction began. Our energetic crowd buzzed with excitement during the auctions. We then heard inspiring speeches from Adil Bhesania, OZCF President, who welcomed everyone, as well as Phil Sidhwa, Place of Worship Advisory Committee Chair, and Marzi Byramjee, Fundraising Chair, about the current state of construction, and the power and impact our community achievements have on future generations to come.

Our professional auctioneer conducted our live auction with many exciting prizes donated by members of our generous community. The call for donations triggered a breathtaking flurry of generosity, with donations ranging from $150,000 to $100, and from contributors ranging across the age spectrum with passionate speeches and dedications. It was an awesome feeling to witness contributions from younger participants, donating whatever they could, instilling confidence in the future upkeep of our place of worship by the generations to come.

The OZCF’s 10-acre property in Oakville, Ontario, Canada Is destined to become a self-sustaining revenue generating complex, fostering the growth of Zoroastrianism in North America. Planned are a seniors retirement home, commercial and retail buildings, museum, classrooms and ample parking. Your continued generosity will help build a consecrated Atashkadeh to accommodate the expanding Zoroastrian community in the Toronto area and support the ordainment of Zoroastrian priests.

We send a huge THANK YOU to the generous guests, volunteers and contributors whose support made this year’s gala a resounding success!

Inspired to contribute?

Visit www.ozcf.com or contact philsidhwa@hotmail.com or marzi@regalpresscanada.com. Together as a community, we're propelling the vision of a vibrant Atashkadeh closer to reality!

Click To Read More

The World Zoroastrian Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) Toronto Chapter is proud to announce the next meeting at the OZCF hall.

We will hear from four entrepreneurs who all started their businesses during the COVID years. The challenges they faced and where they are today. If you are an entrepreneur who started a business during the COVID years, please contact: afreed.mistry@gmail.com to be a speaker at the event.

Event Date: Saturday, Nov. 18th, 2023 @ 1:00 PM

Location: OZCF, 1187 Burnhamthrope Road E., Oakville, ON

Event Fee: Free

Please sign up to attend the event:

Attend the Event

Agenda: 1:00 pm - Registration and Networking (snacks will be served) 1:30 pm - Announcements and Introductions 1:35 pm - Hear from the Enterprising Entrepreneurs 2:45 pm - Networking with members 3:00 pm - End Meeting Speakers:

Anaheez Karbhari Anaheez Karbhari is a UX Designer based in Toronto, Canada. She is the founder and owner of Jaan Joon, a small baking business that blossomed during the rise of the pandemic. As a self-taught baker, Anaheez enjoys the process of innovation while paying homage to traditional Persian & Indian palates. Honey, saffron, pistachios, rose and cardamom are some of Jaan Joon’s staple flavor profiles. Anaheez specializes in unique goodies such as bite-sized truffles, macarons, and cookies, and is now shipping across Canada & the United States.

Diana Daver Diana is the owner of a small business called JustSoaps by Diana. She makes handmade organic soaps in small batches. These soaps are packed with natural goodness and are devoid of any harmful chemicals like phthalates and parabens found in commercial soaps which are all carcinogenic and cause more harm than good. Diana’s soaps contain glycerine (which is a natural compound derived from vegetable oils and is known for its moisturizing properties), organic essential oils, skin friendly ingredients and are as natural as possible. Since these are as the name says “just soaps” they contain no preservatives, foaming agents and toxic scents. These soaps  do have a small shelf life like all things natural and for all good reasons. They are perfect for all skin types and for all ages. What’s more is that these soaps are easily customizable too. They make for very unique and personal gifts as an added bonus.

Dr. Armita Bhesania Drs. Armita and Adil Bhesania - two young sibling entrepreneurs have started a dental clinic in Mississauga, ON. Armita will be speaking at the WZCC event.  She went to dental school and graduated from Dalhousie University in 2019. She then did an additional year of intense training at Mount Sinai Hospital downtown Toronto. Adil and Armita always knew they wanted to buy a dental clinic together and serve the community in whichever way they can. After 2 years of constant searching, they finally found a clinic they loved and are proud to call it their own. Churchill Smiles Dentistry is located in Mississauga.

Farah Ardeshir Farah Ardeshir was born and brought up in Mumbai, India. She has done hospitality management but unfortunately, was never taught any baking in her program. She is a self-taught baker and has opened "M5 Bakes", a certified home based business, which makes delicious and fresh, made to order cakes, cupcakes, desserts, sweet and savory treats. She also offers vegan and gluten-free cakes and cupcakes. In 2020, she got her calling to embrace the healing journey and educate in the natural and therapeutic form of hypnotherapy followed by other healing and spiritual modalities. Farah was attuned as a Reiki Master at the age of 18 years. Taking all these experiences ahead, she has now started a holistic health and wellness practice called "Spark the Light Within." Farah now focuses full time on these 2 businesses. Her aim in both her businesses is to make people happy with her baking delicacies and holistic healing.

Regards, WZCC Toronto Chapter Team

The OZCF are thrilled to announce that they are embarking on an exciting journey to build their place of worship, and they would like to invite you to join them in this endeavor.

To celebrate this milestone, OZCF are organizing a grand gala event on Saturday, November 11th, at the prestigious Mississauga Convention Centre. The event will commence at 6:00 pm, and they cordially invite you to attend.

The gala promises to be an unforgettable evening filled with joy, cultural performances, and a chance to connect with fellow community members. It will also serve as an opportunity to raise funds for the construction of OZCF's place of worship.

Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023

Time: 6:00 pm onwards

Venu: Mississauga Convention Centre

Ticket Price: $150 per person

Contact for Tickets:

Gulrukh

cawasgul@gmail.com

647-787-0237

905-542-0237

To purchase tickets, kindly reach out to Gulrukh, OZCF's dedicated coordinator, at cawasgul@gmail.com or call her at or 905-542-0237. Gulrukh will be delighted to assist you with any inquiries or ticket purchases.

Your presence and support at this gala event will contribute significantly to the realization of OZCF's dream. Together, we can create a place of worship that will serve as a sanctuary for spiritual growth, community bonding, and cultural preservation.

Click Here to read our sponsorship opportunities.

FEZANA Religion Education Committee invites you to

Lived Zoroastrianism:How Zoroastrian Women Practice Religion in the American Diaspora

A conversation with Dr.Paulina Niechciał

Time: Saturday Oct 28, 2023

9:00 AM Pacific |12:00 PM Eastern

The lecture will discuss the anthropological study conducted among Zoroastrian women settled in the United States of America, which since the mid-20th century has been accommodating migrants and refugees practicing Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrian migration is connected with the transfer of religious practices to the new continent and their transformation and reevaluation in a new context. As institutional Zoroastrianism has been male-dominated, it is particularly interesting to explore how women transform religion through their practices and how they challenge the traditional way of understanding Zoroastrianism.

The perspective that inspired the study is a lived religion approach that captures the changes and diversification of religious practices in everyday life, highlighting the way individuals practice religion. In 2019, as a recipient of the Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowship, hosted by the Department of Central Eurasian Studies at the Indiana University in Bloomington, Dr. Paulina Niechciał conducted fieldwork within her research project ‘Lived Religion’ in the Context of Migration: The Case of Zoroastrian Women in the USA. The qualitative interviews collected within the project were conducted among the first and second generations of female immigrants, who identified with a Zoroastrian community and had at least one parent of Zoroastrian origin from Iran, India or old Parsi colonies. Conducted in different states, including Illinois, California, Texas, Kentucky, and Ohio, the study reflects on the diversity of American Zoroastrians, subsequently indicating some general trends in the transformation of their religion.

About Dr. Paulina Niechciał

Paulina Niechciał is an assistant professor in the Center for Comparative Civilization Studies at Jagiellonian University, Poland. She completed her M.A. degree both in Ethnology (2006) and Iranian Studies (2008), and a Ph.D. degree in Sociology (2012). In her doctoral thesis, based on field research conducted among Zoroastrians in Tehran, she analyzed the issues of collective identity. Her academic interests cover the anthropology and sociology of religion and the contemporary cultures of Persiante societies of Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. She authored academic journal articles and book chapters on minority and identity studies and a monograph in Polish titled Zoroastrian Minority in Modern Tehran: On Collective Identity in the Context of Shi’a Domination (2013). Her most recent research interests focus on modern Zoroastrianism within a gender studies framework.

Join Zoom Meeting

FEZANA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Lived Zoroastrianism: A Conversation with Paulina Niechciat

Time: Oct 28, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 894 3548 7277

Passcode: FEZANA

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