“Zeal and zest”

"Our brethren who migrated from Iran hundreds of years back have very much kept alive this beautiful tradition and celebrate it with the same zeal and zest,” said Masood Khaleghi, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran addressing the 18th Navroze Dhamaka on March 21, 2013 at Allbless Baug. "Navroz is the day when the sun enters into a new cycle and brings spring on the ancient land of Iran and its neighboring countries. It is a new day. The Iranian calendar begins from this day,” he enlightened the audience.

Navroz "brings along with itself the rebirth of nature and the growing development. Human beings also consider this phenomenon as motivating and stimulant for the inner development of life such as speech, behavior and character,” noted Mehdi Hassankhani, director of the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the souvenir published to mark the event. Raj Purohit, president of the Bharatiya Janta Party and Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Member of the Legislative Assembly attended the function with the former lauding the community on producing stalwarts in every field.

Khaleghi presenting Parsi Ratna to Mehta; Marazban Mehta and orchestra; Feritta; Raj Purohit

The Dhamaka witnessed the first ever Parsi Ratna award being conferred, the awardee being Dr Cyres Keiki Mehta for excellence in the field of ophthalmology. The Darabshaw Achievement Awards for 2013 went to WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zoroastrians) chief executive officer Anahita Desai, social worker Soonoo Andhyarujina, lawyers Dadi Engineer and Firoze Andhyarujina, panthaky of the Vatchha Gandhy Agiary Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji, ghazal singer Penaz Masani, Australian singer Feritta (Khambatta), Bollywood stuntwoman Sanobar Pardiwala, director of food and beverage at the Holiday Inn in Somerset, New Jersey Farhad Dumasia, orthodontist and dental implantologist Dr Rushitum Mistry, entrepreneur and keen scouter Feroze Sethna, actors Bomi and Dolly Dotiwala and holistic health guru Mickey Mehta. The trophies were presented by Khaleghi and Hassankhani who also gifted Diniar Mehta, chairman of The D. D. Mehta Memorial Trust a book on Iran. A Navroz table was specially laid for the guests.
Marazban Mehta of Darling Orchestra fame sang old and new Bollywood numbers while Feritta regaled the audience with two songs from her recent album, A Journey Begins.
The evening ended with a dinner catered by Shahi Dawat.