Zoro culture in Singapore

The Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore and the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao are to co-sponsor the two-day celebrations in Singapore of the UNESCO associated 3,000th anniversary of Zoroastrian culture. Scheduled for May 28 and 29, 2004 an exhibition of Zoroastrian artefacts on loan from Pheroza Godrej, Firoza Punthakey Mistree, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet and other private sour­ces will be showcased at Singapore’s Asian Civilisation Museum, as per an e-mail from the Singapore anjuman president Russi Ghadiali. Clothes, photos, books, stamps, coins, music will be on display, adds Farrokh Rustomji who is the coordinator for India.

Ghadiali: cele-brating 3,000th anniversary

Minister of State Chan Soo Sen from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Community Development and Sports is to inaugurate the exhibition in the afternoon of May 28. The exhibition’s objective is "to make the other eight religions and communities in Asia aware of our old religion and culture,” notes Ghadiali. Prominent Parsis of Bombay and Hong Kong have already confirmed their support and attendance, among them legal doyen and Rajya Sabha member Fali Nariman and art historian Godrej. The heads of all the various religions and communities in Singapore will be a part of the VIP guest list.

The next morning scholars will highlight various aspects of Zoroastrian culture and religion, some with visual support. At the celebratory dinner that evening the guest of honor will be the President of the Republic of Singapore S. R. Nathan.

"We will arrange for safe transportation and archiving, special packaging, forwarding, freight, insurance (door to door) etc, as well as for reprinting, enlargements, high resolution CDs to commemorate the event, panels,” assures Rustomji.

The organizers are hoping for donations and sponsorships from philanthropists in Singapore, Hong Kong and elsewhere to defray the costs incurred. Donor cheques drawn in Indian rupees in favor of the reputed firm of chartered accountants M/s S. N. Karani and Company (3000th Anniversary A/c) may be addressed to them at Behramji Mansion, 4th floor, Sir P. M. Road, Fort, Bombay 400001 (Tel: 912256348574). All donations will be acknowledged with a receipt. Donations of Rs 5,000 and over will be enumerated in the souvenir.

For further information about the planned event readers may contact Mistree (zstudies@vsnl.com), Rustomji (f.rustomji@vsnl.com and mobile 9892525794) or Dadi Mistry in New Delhi (Mistry@del2.vsnl.net.in and phone 011-26138394).