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Parsiana
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Zoroastrians Abroad

11WZC participation

By Parinaz Gandhi · November 21, 2017
One hundred and five delegates have registered for the 11th World Zoroastrian Congress in Perth from June 1-4, 2018, stated Congress chair Firoz Pestonji. Speaking to Parsiana on a visit to Bombay on October 11, 2017, he was happy to report that the global Congress (see "11WZC registrations open,” Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, August 21, 2017) will include participation from a Kurdish Zoroastrian delegation led by Awat Darya, representative of the Kurdish Zoroastrians in the Kurdistan government (see "Kurds come calling,” Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, July 7, 2017).
Additionally, there will be a strong Iranian contingent including members of Parliament Mobed Kourosh Niknam and Dr Esfandiyar Ekhtiyari, Dr Mehran Sepehri from the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, and playwright, songwriter and director Dr Nasrin Khanjari at the Congress, according to their website. Speakers from USA will include president and vice president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) Homi Gandhi and Arzan Wadia, former FEZANA presidents Rohinton Rivetna and Katayun Kapadia, global president and vice president of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) Edul Daver and Bomi Patel, chairman and vice chairman of WZCC Mumbai Chapter, Adi Siganporia and Xerxes Dastur.
Zoroastrian organizations in India will be represented by Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada, Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the WZO Trust Fund, Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Kersi Randeria and Parzor director Dr Shernaz Cama.
Byram Avari, chairman of the Karachi Parsi Anjuman, has confirmed participation too. Hong Kong will be represented by Neville Shroff, president, and Jal Shroff, former president of the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao; Singapore by Rusi Ghadiali; and Sri Lanka by Aban Pestonjee.
Whilst the majority of Zoroastrians from Australia have yet to sign up for the Congress, among the speakers shortlisted are MLA Yaz Mubarakai; Amit Kumar Mishra, consul general of India in Perth; Prof Alison Betts, professor of Silk Road Studies at the University of Sydney; Dr Mehravar Marzbani, Gatha scholar; and Dr Pheroza Daruwalla, president of the Australian Zoroastrian Association of New South Wales. "The special Early Bird Tickets will not last long,” reminds the 11WZC website.
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