Resourcefully relishing

The further you are away from your homeland, the more you romanticize the tongue-tingling flavors, delightful textures and mouth-watering aromas of celebratory wedding food on the 70 mm platter of your mind’s eye. With New Zealand being geographically placed literally at the other end of the world, it’s hardly surprising that the Zoroastrian migrants yearn for a traditional, hearty meal served on banana leaf, just the way they did in India.
However, since there is no line-up of Parsi caterers with an army of workers in the City of Sails, the Zoroastrian Community Trust of New Zealand (ZCT) recently took the initiative of hosting "Jamva Chalo Ji” at the Bucklands Beach Community Centre, Auckland as a fund-raiser for the proposed Zoroastrian Community Centre and place of worship in Auckland.
The patra nu bhonu, complete with paanth sitting, was served by Hosi Katki, the Auckland based local Parsi chef who has catered for many a bawa party. He and his better half Mahrukh worked with military precision to prove their cooking prowess to one and all. Soon after the excited guests dipped their crispy sarias into achaar and relished it, they were offered rotli and raspberry drink. This was followed by sali margi with gravy that made them want to lick their fingers, a generous serving of patra ni machhi and aromatic pulav-dar with tender and juicy pieces of goat meat. It was topped off by a huge serving of lagan nu custard made by community volunteers, and ice cream. Needless to say that the feedback the trustees received was high praise and lots of queries about when it would happen next.
Adding an elegant touch to the evening was the gara and kor-ni-saris competition as the ladies paraded their exquisite wear without letting the wind and rain come in-between dressing up and having a good time.
With 150 members participating in this event, the ZCT board of trustees comprising Rohinton Patrawala, Shahazad Contractor, Tanaz Siganporia, Tehmus Mistry and Vicky Mistry were able to raise NZ $ 4,500 (Rs 2,07,000). As a registered charitable trust that is raising funds with an objective to establish a Zoroastrian Community Centre and place of worship in Auckland, New Zealand, the trustees hope to create a venue where the younger generation can forge lasting relationships, where members of the community can celebrate every good occasion, be it navjotes, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, baby showers, barbecues or spend time playing housie and bridge. It could also be a meeting ground where the young and old can get together for festivals or religious lectures, prayer, karate and cooking classes.
With the Zoroastrian population in New Zealand having grown from a tiny community of about 20 in the late 1980s to a sizeable 1,200, the ZCT was set up by the committed five as a registered charitable trust under the laws of New Zealand in March 2007. The trust deed is available for viewing on www.zct.co.nz
As per their vision the trustees hope to see the Community Centre completed within the next five years. Having already raised around $ 120,000 (Rs 5,520,000) of the estimated cost of $ 750,000 (Rs 34,500,000) they plan to collect balance funds through donations and fund-raising activities. Convinced that it is in the interest of the next generation, the trustees hope that the entire local community whole-heartedly rallies behind them so that they can achieve their objective. There are several ways that the local community can donate — become a Pledge donor (for as little as $1 a day) or donate any amount to become a Friend of ZCT. ZCT is also looking for financial support from international donors and associations.
A Parsi Gujarati natak has been planned for mid next year which will be professionally directed and will have two shows over a weekend. All of ZCT’s fund-raiser events are open to the wider community.