Youth meet in Poona

Poona-based Mabrin N. Nanavatti, president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Youth Associations of India (FOZYA) has sent out an e-mail announcing that the 18th All India Zoroastrian Youth Meet has been scheduled to take place in that city from May 13-15, 2010 at the Dr Erin Nagarvalla High School in Kalyaninagar, Poona. For the past four years FOZYA had not held any meets due to constraints of finance and other reasons, the e-mail reveals. Now FOZYA has "been reunited and has taken the first step to rekindle the spirit of interaction and assimilation amongst the Zoroastrian youth,” who seem to be straying away from the community, he writes.

Stressing that this "is not a matrimonial meet,” he promises the participants "fun filled evenings” in addition to "very interactive sessions.” The age group will be restricted from 18-40 years and "we will meet here to make new friends and gather more information.” During the past FOZYA has had many interesting meets in places like Goa, Bordi, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Nagpur, Dahanu among others. Poona last hosted a youth meet in 1989, Nanavatti notes.

Helping FOZYA organize the event will be the local Zoroastrian Youth Association (ZYA) headed by Hormuz Pundole, along with old boys of ZYA. Registration forms will be available with local youth wings of anjumans/punchayets and on www.poonazoroas trians.org, a website hosted by Nanavatti and Kayomarz Gazder. Since accommodation is limited, forms will be accepted on a first come basis. The early bird offer of Rs 500 for three days will end on March 31 after which fees for the event will be Rs 750. "The cost has intentionally been kept low to attract a higher crowd,” Nanavatti mentions. While welcoming suggestions for the event, Nanavatti is available to provide further information at mab_rin@hotmail.com or electronics_unlimited@mail.com