Candid calendar

Brazenly baring their beauty, a line-up of 12 models specially draped, coiffured and photographed were expected to adorn the walls of Parsi Irani Zara­thushti homes in 2011 with a glossy calendar brought out by ZYNG (Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation), the youth wing of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). But within a week of ZYNG announcing the sale of their calendars, each priced at Rs 300, the BPP received backlash: from the liberals, for exposing their (BPP’s) double standards; and from their orthodox companions for daring to reveal the skin with no trace of the sudreh.

When a Parsiana correspondent visited one of the agiaries in central Bombay the lady in charge showed her disdain for the BPP trustees’ and World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zar­thoshtis’ (WAPIZ) "so-called orthodoxy.” Referring to the "naagaa-oogaara (exposed) photographs,” she enquired, "Are the trustees trying to compete with Vijay Mallya?”

She had a word of advice for the trustees: "Tell them to send this calendar to every agiary and let it be hung up next to the frame of the Prophet. We will then see before which image the devotees pay obeisance!”

One of the pages of the controversial ZYNG calendar

The calendar has been printed by JAK Printers Private Limited, sponsored by the trendy lounge Valhalla (which has also contributed 10 sizzling recipes) and conceptualized by Tashan Mistree, Viraf Mehta and Pearl Tiran­daz. Credit also goes to Anaita Shroff Adajania for costume styling, Mehera Kolah for hair and make up, and Farzan Randelia for photographing the beautiful women. Similar to the Parsiana style, The ZYNG Calendar 2011 carries the mah and roz of each date as per the three calendars observed by the Shahenshahi, Kadmi and Fasli sects. Although 12 paravs have been indicated, why a stemmed glass is shown on alternate Fridays and Saturdays of each month one does not know. In addition to one page each being dedicated to Valhalla and ZYNG, two pages are used to explain "Who are the Zoroastrians?” "The 3 Zoroastrian Calendars” and "Days and their Meanings.”

Readers’ reactions to the calendar will appear in the next issue of Parsiana.