Following our faith

"Parsi” is a community, not a religion. We are of the Mazdayasna faith as taught by Zarathushtra — not Zoroaster (as the Greeks called him).

Any person in the world can follow our faith. There can be African, German, Tajik or American Zarthoshtis. All of them enjoy the privilege of having their navjote performed, being of sound mind and conviction to decipher right from wrong. All of them are entitled to wear the sudreh and kusti.

Prayers can be said anywhere (mountainside, fields, seashores, etc) Ahura Mazda resides in one’s heart and home, not in some grandiose architectural structure. So if the Parsi punchayets refuse access to the fire temples, so be it.

Navjote is the most important event. At the navjote the initiates, little boys and girls, understand their responsibilities and take their place in the world. The question is: How can this be possible if they know not what it’s all about as parental and communal interests are quite evidently very minimal. If a navjote can be done over the mobile (cell phone), priests would not be required. Just turn on the speaker phone and listen to a recording: For Patet Pashemani, press 1, for Kusti press 2, for Tandarosti press 3, for dinner press J (for jamva chaloji)!

Make the officiating priest explain the meaning of the prayers, not just some nasal muttering which impales the very soul of this religious investiture. If he is unable to, he has no business being the officiating priest. Ask the child what he/she understands from all this. Was it for a Game Boy, fancy clothes, money envelopes or what? Forgetting fads and fashions, let us wear sudrehs and kustis to observe this important event. We are not out for a fashion show or a social soirée. And the child must be given a shawl to mark this occasion. Better still, to accommodate every fancy, hold the navjote at home in the morning and reception at a hotel in the evening.

PARVEZ S. DASTOOR

Farmington, Missouri, USA

Parsi2@sbcglobal.net