Gahanbar generosity

Happy to bond with co-religionists after a long hiatus, an estimated 188 Zoroastrians participated in the Maidhiayarem Gahanbar (thanksgiving gathering traditionally celebrated as a mid-winter festival in Iran nearly three months before the onset of Navroz according to the Fasli calendar, and now observed as the Dae mah gahanbar by Shahenshahis) in Houston on June 6, 2021. "We all did enjoy the event as it was our first in-person gathering," noted Aban Rustomji who had sponsored the jashan and lunch in memory of her husband Purvez, founder of Coating Industries, Inc who 10 years after his demise continues to be fondly remembered by the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) as an "inspirational community member."

ZAH chair Nozer Dungor welcomed everyone and thanked "Aban and family for sponsoring the gahanbar and for all they have done and continue to do for ZAH." Happy to see the community flourishing with "two generations of successful professionals since we started ZAH," Aban acknowledged that "families like mine have their children and grandchildren enjoying our ZAH Center. We gather to recognize the unique role that ZAH plays in our lives. We celebrate religious education leaders, social groups amongst us, and most importantly, our younger generation who are now professionals and already making notable contributions as leaders. We also celebrate all our donors, large and small, who step up to expand their levels of support to make dreams come true. And we commemorate the memory of individuals who are not with us but have nourished this establishment we have at ZAH." The assembly then enjoyed a scrumptious lunch of mutton dhansak with turkey kabobs and kachumber catered by chef Naushad Mehta of Cillie’s.

"A sponsor of a gahanbar bears the cost of food, Atash Kadeh use, ashodad for the priests and paper products, while malido, fruits, flowers and nuts are donated by other community members," Manashni editor Arnavaz Sethna clarified for Parsiana. Those attending have to pay a charge and the proceeds are given to ZAH towards general operating expenses. ZAH generally celebrates two gahanbars — one, Shahenshahi Dae mah gahanbar in early June and the second, Fasli Mehrgan festival in the first week of October.

Yet another event planned for the Houston community by The ZAH Library is a two-day gala on the weekend of October 1 and 2, 2021 to recognize "the wide range of talented authors in the Zoroastrian community in North America," wrote Jangoo Mistry in Manashni. On October 1, they propose to felicitate their renowned member-author Bapsi Sidhwa and in her presence institute the Bapsi Sidhwa Award for excellence in literature by a Zoroastrian author. "In recent years, a wide swath of Zoroastrian talent all over the world has emerged in fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, children’s books and even poetry. And though there are numerous awards for writers that cover North America and outside," there is no exclusive award for Zoroastrian authors and hence a befitting trophy and cash award is being planned. The second day of the event will see authors in different genres being interviewed by moderators who will facilitate discussions on their work.