Zoroastrians Abroad
Ontario events
A series of events in Ontario marked the celebrations of 3,000 years of Zoroastrian culture. The Ontario Zoroastrian Community Foundation (OZCF) hosted its second annual Black Tie Gala Fundraiser Evening on September 27, 2003 at the St Volodymyr Cultural Centre in Oakville. It was attended by the mayor of Oakville Ann Mulvale and other members of the local municipality who encouraged OZCF’s endeavor to purchase land and build a center of worship and culture in the area.
The totally sponsored event which included silent and live auctions, door prizes and raffle draws netted $ 1,39,000, notes the report presented by Roshan Davar. A gourmet dinner, dancing to the music of Craig and the Cruisers with pastry and fresh fruits at midnight kept the revellers happy.
Two months later, on November 28, 2003 Ontarions gathered at the Markham Theatre where the celebrations were hosted by the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO). The audience, including Members of Parliament Derek Lee and Jim Karygiannis who were the guests of honor, was entertained by more than 100 performers ranging in age from four to 85 presenting songs, dances and skits based on Zarathushtra’s teachings, legends and culture. "The Silk Road Chamber Orchestra, Tabriz Azerbaijanian Music and Dance Ensemble (TAMDE), and a professional group of musicians performing melodies of ‘Radif’ of Iranian Classical Music from ‘Avaz-e Dashti’ with our very own Armita Azari, captivated the crowd with their melange of traditional and folklore rhythms from the times of Zoroastrian origin,” notes the report of Roxanna Mirza. The show, directed by Ervad Kerman Katrak, was produced by Davar with co-producers Anahita Khory and Mirza. But a large, enthusiastic team ensured a successful evening.
At the OZCF Navroz celebrations (alongside) a rumba interlude with Roshan and Burjor Davar and (below) a children’s talent show
Further celebrations at the Mehraban Guiv Darbe Mehr comprised games and songs with a Zoroastrian theme and a Navroz table on display on November 30. On December 7 a melange of religious and ethnic visitors watched a jashan demonstration followed by an explanation. Ervads Yezdi Antia and Jehan Bagli, and Daraius Bharucha fielded questions relating to ceremonial, religious and historical facts and figures. The session was moderated by Mirza.
The festivities continued with a Zoroastrian Film Festival in January 2004 at the Albion and Westside Cinemas and lectures on the influence of Zoroastrianism through the ages at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on January 31, 2004. Bagli spoke on the Religion of Zarathushtra in the Achaemenian era; ROM teacher and president of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities Gayle Gibson discussed Mithra and the Romans; and Prof of Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University Jamsheed Choksy described the Zoroastrian influence on the Indian subcontinent.
The ZSO has also published a pamphlet on Zoroastrianism for the general public printed by Behram Jam with material contributed by Bagli, Freddy Mirza and Bharucha, notes the report.
Nearly 245 members of the ZSO attended a khushali-nu-jashan on January 25 in thanks giving for successful fundraising by the team headed by Dr Dhun Noria.
Daraius Bharucha, chairperson of ZSO’s Religious Education subcommittee who has taught Zoroastrianism for the last 15 years, according to the ZSO newsletter (January 2004), was the top scorer among the second-year part-time students in 2003 at York University’s Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies. The 41-year-old father of two was awarded the George Hopton Award which recognizes academic excellence in the humanities.
The smallest baby in the world to receive a liver transplant, Sanaya Bamboat was all of five pounds on November 4, 2003 when she underwent a 10-hour operation at Toronto’s Sick Children Hospital. Born to Khushnuma and Hoshedar Bamboat on October 4, 2003, the community organized two humbandagis for the ailing child ere she received the liver from a child donor, as notes the ZSO newsletter (December 2003).
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From the archive