Core of the Congress

"Zarathushti Existence in the Contemporary World” will be the theme of the 16th North American Zarathushti Congress to be hosted by the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) in conjunction with The Iranian Zoroastrian Association from August 2-5, 2012 at the Hilton Rye Town Hotel, in a suburb of New York City. "Evolution depends upon adapting to the environment, and this theme challenges us to examine where we are, and how we need to adapt so that we not only survive but thrive,” notes the Congress website, nazc.zagny.org

Presentations by "respected scholars and historians, distinguished community members and people who are making a change in the world” have been planned for the four days. The sessions will include a discussion on the core beliefs on which the religion rests, dissecting the roots and routes of the Zarathushti identity, a practical look at community organizing, a nuts and bolts workshop for teachers of religious classes, mini courses in religious fundamentals, addressing poverty in the community, strategies for managing life post retirement. There will be concurrent tracks — education, youth, core beliefs, rituals and practices, worldwide Zarathushti issues — that will focus on pressing subjects confronting the community.

In addition to the Congress sessions will be the evening functions: music filled Pre-Congress Youth Night; FEZANA 25th anniversary dinner ($ 75); an evening in New York City ($ 25 per person for the bus journey), dinner and entertainment at the Hilton ($ 50), gala banquet on the penultimate night. The day prior to the Congress will be observed as the WZCC (World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce) Day, August 1 with the program including visits to New York City’s business districts and dinner with keynote speakers.

Participants at the Jamva Chaloji fundraiser organized in New York

Those availing of the early bird (before January 31, 2012) registration, are expected to pay $ 100 (under five years), $ 150 (six-12 years), $ 250 (13-24 years), $ 300 (25-65 years) and $ 275 (66 and above). The regular rates are an additional $ 50 in each of the age groups whilst the late comers (June 1-July 26, 2012) will need to pay nearly $ 125 in excess of the regular rates. Registration can be done online or mailed to Piroja Press, 653, Richmond Court, Ramsey, New Jersey 07446, USA. Accommodation at the Hilton Westchester has been offered at $ 119 per room plus taxes for single/double/triple quadruple occupancy.

While ZAGNY president Gev Nentin will serve as co-chair of the Congress, Ferzin Patel will be the second co-chair. The other chairs in charge of different portfolios are Mehru Cama, logistics; Keki Dadachanji, program; Homi Gandhi, public relations and publications; Khursheed Navder and Maharukh Cama, social and entertainment; Kerman Dukandar, finance and fundraising; Nawaz Merchant and Arnaz Maneck-shana, exhibits; Arzan Wadia, technology and audiovisual.

To meet the program expenses the organizers are seeking sponsorship assistance from philanthropic individuals and business houses contributing upwards of: $ 3,500 for bronze, $ 5,000 for silver, $ 10,000 for gold and $ 15,000 for platinum sponsors. They have been assured benefits ranging from complimentary registration, electronically displayed name/logo, acknowledgement in the Congress brochure, half/full page advertisement in the Congress brochure, Congress insignia, preferred seating for banquet, complimentary hotel room/suite, airport transportation, tickets to the Broadway show.

The social committee of ZAGNY meanwhile is trying to raise funds in different ways for the Congress. On November 12 they organized the Jamva Chaloji fundraiser where Kamal and Virasp Davar catered a full lagan-nu-bhonu (wedding repast) served on kera na patra (banana leaves) specially flown in from Florida in traditional paat style seating. Participation from neighboring Zoroastrian Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey further helped to make the evening memorable. As wrote Wadia in the ZAGNY November newsletter, "Audience participation was amazing, with a lot of the guests spontaneously taking the mike to share songs and jokes. Old Parsi songs, forgotten over the generations, were sung again... (evoking) a sense of the times gone by when everyone in the audience remembered growing up back home.” Later, dance music from the 1950s to the current hits kept everyone on the floor for a while.

A month earlier the Social Committee had organized their first ever Dandiya Raas event when participants enjoyed "an evening of non-stop dancing to the rhythmic clitter-clatter of dandiya sticks,” as wrote Navder. Whilst Percis Bansal arranged for the dandiya sticks through Vipul Bansal of Medusind Solutions, Jasely Dukandar put together a spread of traditional chaat items for all to enjoy. "In terms of a fundraiser this was certainly not one to write home about, but as our old Parsi adage goes, "tipé tipé sarovar bharai (every drop contributes to the reservoir)... this one created its own fun-filled little ripple.”

ZAGNY’s Fund Raising Committee is also working in full swing to raise funds for the New Darbe Mehr. Their target is to raise $ 2,000,000 by December 2011 and as of November they had collected $ 1.8 million. They were happy to report that the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hong Kong, Canton and Macao have pledged $ 100,000, and Krishna and Uma Patel, well-wishers who were not even solicited, gave a check of $ 5,000. The Committee was also appreciative that members who were celebrating their birthdays, weddings and other occasions were showing their "support and commitment” to the association in "a wonderful way.”