Gavashni issue 04 may 2016

Gavashni May, 2016

Issue 04

www.wzcongress.org/enterprisedubai/

Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region

If you’re in search of the exotic, join the

Dubai Pravasi Yatra Program from 7th to 11th October, 2016 and weave a vacation you will never forget!

LAND PACKAGE - DUBAI & ABU DHABI

US$ 625/-

For more details visit

www.wzcc.net

FLIGHT - JET AIRWAYS

US$ 290/-

Leaving an Enduring Trail

WZCCME News

Welcome Home

Meet the stars of our community

Meet the Super Six and find out how ME became WE

Experience the old world charm of Udvada - a perfect getaway and pay homage to 1294 years old Atash Behram

For a Peaceful Future

A Class Act

Setting New Milestones

Coinciding with the world Interfaith Harmony Week, a memorable meet took place in Dubai on February 3rd, 2016 under the patronage of HH. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. We bring you more news...

Preserving mother earth is our duty.

Let's see how our young eco-warriors are contributing to the Earth Hour

The Shroff Family from Hong Kong donated US$ 22.5 mio for building the state-of- the-art hospital 'The Shroff Medical Centre' at the B.D.Petit Parsee General, Mumbai. Read more...

Gavashni

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Leaving an enduring trail

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Dubai Pravasi Yatra - an exciting program from 7th to 11th October, 2016 happening in Dubai

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H. H. Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, calls for more interfaith tolerance for a peaceful future

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An evening where ME (Middle East) became ‘WE’ (News update on WZCCME)

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Earth Hour - 2016

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Sadra-Kasti-Navjote - an important ritual in Zoroastrianism

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Groundbreaking ceremony of the 'Shroff Medical Center', Mumbai

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Welcome home to beautiful Udvada

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I need you - a story with a morale

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A bright, modern and spacious Prayer Hall at Worli, Mumbai

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Regional News – Bahrain

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A New Dar-E-Mehr is born in New York!

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Babbling Buttercup’s Diaries

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Indian Summer - Savour your dining experience

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Smiles of Joy

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Member’s Corner

Editorial Team Director, Gavashni Meher Bhesania

Senior Executive, Advertising & Administration Firdaus Irani

Our Overseas Contributors Kaizad Sanjana - Bahrain Nevil Malao - Bahrain Rumi Bhathena - Doha Kaiomarz Mistry - Kuwait Gooloo Mehta - Kuwait Cashmera Bhaya – Muscat Dinshaw K. Tamboli – India

Our Regional Contributors Gool Navdar Nahid Elavia Shroff Roshni Raimalwala Urvaksh Tantra

Website www.wzcongress.org/enterprisedubai/

Website Administration On-Lyne Computers Co. Mumbai, India

Design Vilas Bodke, Senior Designer, Colour Power, Dubai, UAE

Picture Courtesy

Pages: 2, 7, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, from Google.com & Page: 21, ZAGNY

Text Courtesy

Contents adapted from Facebook - Parsi Irani Deen Parast Zarathus

Disclaimer The Publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this newsletter, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advise before acting on information contained in this newsletter which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this newsletter or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.

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Gavashni

Dear Members,

Gavashni May, 2016

Issue 04

www.wzcongress.org/enterprisedubai/

Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region

Welcome to the fourth Issue of Gavashni, a newsletter for our Zoroastrian community members residing in the Gulf region.

If you’re in search of the exotic, join the

Dubai Pravasi Yatra Program from 7th to 11th October, 2016 and weave a vacation you will never forget!

2016, is going to be yet another action-packed year for all of us, as we host The Dubai Pravasi Yatra program.

LAND PACKAGE - DUBAI & ABU DHABI

US$ 625/-

For more details visit

www.wzcc.net

FLIGHT - JET AIRWAYS

US$ 290/-

Leaving an Enduring Trail

WZCCME News

Welcome Home

Meet the stars of our community

Meet the Super Six and find out how ME became WE

Experience the old world charm of Udvada - a perfect getaway and pay homage to 1294 years old Atash Behram

For a Peaceful Future

A Class Act

Setting New Milestones

Coinciding with the world Interfaith Harmony Week, a memorable meet took place in Dubai on February 3rd, 2016 under the patronage of HH. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. We bring you more news...

Preserving mother earth is our duty.

Let's see how our young eco-warriors are contributing to the Earth Hour

The Shroff Family from Hong Kong donated US$ 22.5 mio for building the state-of- the-art hospital 'The Shroff Medical Centre' at the B.D.Petit Parsee General, Mumbai. Read more...

The program will take place from 7th to 11th October 2016. It is open to all Zoroastrians around the world. Whilst this is a tourism program to showcase Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it is a tourism-cum-business program for businessmen who have the intention to start new businesses in Dubai.

On our community side, we targeted a few successful businessmen and professionals and have covered their profiles. We are sure, you will find their stories inspiring!

Similarly, we approached our young eco-warriors and invited them to speak up their minds on the Earth Hour. Do read their responses. They seem to be partnering well with this initiative and doing whatever is within their power to give the mother earth some rest; thereby contributing positively to climate change and a brighter tomorrow.

As you all know, WZCCME took off to a great start this year. The team of ‘Super Six’ has rolled out some meaningful programs which will keep the WZCCME members engrossed in various activities this year. The welcome kit distributed by them to the paid Members of WZCCME are amazing. It contains discount coupons that will help the members in getting good discounts at certain outlets. We bring you a report on their first function which took place at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club on 12th February, 2016.

Elsewhere in the issue, we have covered stories on beautiful Udvada; Zoroastrian ritual ceremony of Sadra-Kusti and Navjote; the ground breaking ceremony of the Shroff Medical Centre at the B.D.Petit Parsee General Hospital; a new prayer hall facility at Worli and much more…

Hope you enjoy this issue!

Kind Regards, Meher Bhesania Director, Gavashni

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Leaving an enduring trail Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it. Here are a few profiles of successful people from our community who have really done well for themselves and also made the community proud all because they started with one determination - a decision to try. The sweat, the time, the exertion, the devotion which they have put in their work, has all paid off handsomely!

A man of grit, determination and perseverance Born in Agra, Armin Sorabji completed his college education before moving to Mumbai to pursue further studies and trained as an article clerk as required by the Institute of Chartered Accountant of India with a Parsi firm called Damania Panday & Bajan. It’s here that he gained experience primarily in tax matters and auditing of SME’s.

After qualifying as a CA and working briefly with A F Fergusons he moved to Dubai to work as an auditor with Ernst & Young. He worked with them for 4 years auditing multinational and local companies before joining 3M Gulf.

He has been with 3M for the past 23 years in various roles and has been posted to different countries on assignments. He headed the Finance function for 3M’s operation in Middle East and Africa for 7 years and then moved on to head 3M’s audit function in Asia Pacific. Armin feels that to truly understand and appreciate the operations of a company as big and complicated as 3M there is no better route than internal audit which focuses not just on finance but on the entire operations of the business and manufacturing.

Armin Sorabji

Whilst working with 3M, Armin continued his professional education by studying and qualifying for the CPA exams from Denver Colorado in the USA. To keep fit, he loves to do Yoga whenever time permits and as a hobby helps out his wife in the garden.

A rock solid advisor Delnaz Sanjana is a young dynamic banker based in Dubai since last two years.

A Private banker by profession, Delnaz is a director with a Private Banking Advisory firm based in DIFC – Dubai. She possesses 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. This vast experience of hers enables her to offer strong personalized value propositions to her high net-worth clients and helps her in managing their wealth portfolio in an appropriate, rigorous and transparent manner.

A high profile negotiator she tries to achieve positive outcomes that contribute to the ongoing client relationship while upholding the company's and client’s values with utmost integrity. She is recognized for consistently exceeding her client expectations. Prior to holding this position she worked with multinational banks such as HSBC and ABN Amro in Mumbai and the UK.

Delnaz Sanjana

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Delnaz is a speaker at various forums which enables her to continually expand her referral network contacts with various internal business partners and external centers of influence. She is a member of World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, a business platform she enjoys.

Delnaz has a pleasant and outgoing personality. She is sociable and spontaneous. She likes art and music. She likes to do sports. She loves reading in her free time.

Gavashni

Building a sterling reputation Dr. Shahrzad Kadkhodayan grew up in a beautiful little military town called Devlali. Right from a young age she was focussed towards becoming a dentist. In 2002 she achieved her BDS degree from the Rajiv Gandhi University in Karnataka. She then did a post graduate diploma in Cosmetic Dentistry in affiliation with the the New York University.

After practising in Mumbai for a couple of years she moved to the UK where she took the International Qualifying Examination and acquired a license to practice as a general dentist treating both National Health Service (NHS) and private patients until 2012.

In 2012 she moved to the UAE with her husband and two beautiful children. She and her husband Shahriar Sethna, started OraCare Dental Clinic in Al Barsha in Dubai in 2014.

Owing to their professionalism and quality care, the dental clinic has rapidly expanded with two more branches, one on Al Diyafa Street in Dubai and another in Sharjah. They offer a very comprehensive dental plan which provides a full years' coverage for dental treatment at a very affordable price.

Dr. Shahrzad Kadkhodayan

Dr. Shahrzad is an active member of the General Dental Council (UK) and the Dubai Health Authority and strives to stay up to date with the latest in techniques and technology in the dental profession. She enjoys all areas of dental care from preventive treatment and restorations to root canal treatment, crown and bridge work and cosmetic dentistry.

She is extremely passionate about her work and considers the well being of her patients of prime importance. She enjoys travelling, exercising and spending time with friends and family.

Pillar of strength Shiren Bamboat is a Human Resources Director with Merck, a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials.

Originally from Nashik, Shirin graduated from Leicester University, U.K., Majoring in Organization Development. Thereafter, she completed her MBA in Marketing Management from Pune University and topped the list. Being academically bright, she is also a Fellow Member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

Shiren Bamboat

Shiren’s professional career extends over 20 years. Her expertise lies in planning, directing and implementing activities designed to maximize an organization’s workforce.

She collaborates with leaders growing the business through innovative human resources management skills and handles organizational mergers and acquisitions extremely well.

She provides leadership coaching and development and plays a vital role in setting up Human Resources infrastructure ranging from $500 million up to $7 billion and a workforce ranging from 500 employees to 35,000 employees across diverse services, including oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries that are located in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe, Caspian, the US and Latin America. With her business acumen as well as tactical skills she has contributed significantly not only to the HR Industry in this country but overseas also.

Her strong desire to contribute to women’s empowerment initiative, motivated her to establish the 'Global Women’s Leadership Group' in the oil and gas industry that offers a platform to young professionals to contribute positively and make it the ‘Best Place to Work’ environment.

Shiren is an avid reader. Books that matter to her are on Leadership. She is a great admirer of Jack Welch, Warren Buffet, Ratan Tata and late Mrs. Indira Gandhi whose leadership skills inspire her.

Her motto in life is to stay humble and make a difference to the society. Whilst attributing her success to many factors: upbringing, motivation, great employees and lots of hard work, her main strength emanates from the strong support she receives from her family.

She handles her daily workload with an attitude of pride. Going the extra mile is exactly what Shiren does every day!

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Working with passion Being passionate is important in life, but it also can be difficult to deal with. Just like with all good things, too much of it can be damaging. However, passionate people, overall, do live happier and better lives than the average individual as passion gives them a purpose in life.

For Cyrus Kharas, it's difficult not to be passionate and excited about doing what he does best for a living. He is a pilot and every single day that he goes to work he feels blessed to get to do what he loves. He is the perfect man for the job, but at times there is downside too.....missing important calendar days, sheer exhaustion from jet lag, and the hours of intense study which is required to keep one’s self updated.

However, all this pales in the light of his adventurous spirit and the joy of handling the magnificence of an aircraft. He flies the B777. Actually, he has done a bit more than that - because he showed some promise in the training arena, his company made him an Instructor. They then thought that if he could train pilots and perhaps check their performance too, so they made him a TRE (type-rating examiner).

Captain Cyrus Jehangir Kharas

Now he works with Standards to ensure everyone does the same thing. And this technical understanding has seeped into other facets of his life....just like the rest of us Parsis, (we're infamous for this). His love for cars goes right under its bonnet, through the engine and the air conditioner. Yes, he surely gets teased for that, but he often blames it on his schooling at Laurence School in Ooty, particularly, known for rigorous discipline and instilling a love for life.

If he were to list his hobbies he did say - spending time with his beautiful girls at home would top the list or shall we say, spending time cooking with them while listening to classical instrumental music. Despite his busy schedule he finds time to stay in touch with his friends and is interested in all types of quizzes and trivia. He visits the gymkhana at Dadar Parsi Colony as often as possible, wondering each time whether - it's more the khana than the gym but after all we're all Parsis and nothing defines us better than our love for good food.

A star at home Nergish Antia, popularly known as "Mumma", has more than 50 years of experience in the culinary field. This expertise motivated her to hold her very first food stall at the All India Food Mela, on 22 January 2016, at the India Club in Dubai.

The event brought more than 300 foodies who chose to test their tastebuds and stuff their appetite with delicacies that were sold by various stalls offering different flavours of India.

Nergish bagged the 'Best Efforts Award' just before wrapping up the evening, undoubtedly, for managing the food preparation single handedly. She prepared mutton dhansak, vegetarian dhansak, over 200 kebabs to go with, chicken liver and the very famous sali boti. For the sweet tooth, she also prepared the bread and butter pudding. Nergish can be contacted on +97152 8996246 for placing orders for Parsee speciality dishes.

Nergish Antia

Nergish Antia receiving the 'Best Efforts Award' from Bharat Chachara, CEO India Club in the presence of other officials 6

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Dubai Pravasi Yatra 7-11 October, 2016 A Travel & Tourism program for Zorostrians Community Member worldwide & Leisure cum Commerce for Businessmen Take a trip to happiness with your loved ones and see Dubai & Abu Dhabi!

Early Bird Offer US$ 625/per person

Airline Ticket Jet Airways (Mumbai-Dubai-Mumbai) US$ 290/- per person Group Fare 7-11 October, 2016

Price US$ 625/- includes: Visa, airport transfers (Dxb), Hotel accommodation for 4 nights / 5 days at Hilton Garden Inn Al Mina Hotel (4* property), breakfast, lunch, lavish dinners including Dinner Theatre, day trip to Abu Dhabi and much more...

For Businessmen special trip to Dubai Free Zone is included and expert guidance will be provided by Consultants for setting up new businesses in the UAE.

Incentive Connections Tourism L.L.C.

Event & Operations Partner

Airline Partner

Sightseeing - Dubai: Dubai Shopping Mall,

Sightseeing - Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque,

Fountain Show, Jumeirah, The Palm, Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, Tanoura Dance, Belly Dancing, Henna Painting‌) Spice Souq, Gold Souq, Karama Fake city, Dhow Cruise and exclusive photoshoot at Burj Al Arab 7* Hotel.

Corniche, Heritage Village, Dates Market and exclusive photoshoot at Emirates Palace Hotel, 7* Hotel.

For Booking the Trip please contact: Trail Blazer Tours India Pvt. Ltd., Sangam Project 2, Office # 26, Near Old RTO, Dr. Ambedkar Road, Pune - 411 001. INDIA Tel: 0091 20 49107474 / 49107413 (D) Mobile: 0091 9823324710 | E-mail: vdastur@tbi.co.in

This Program is open to the Zoroastrian community members worldwide

For more details visit: http://wzcc.net If you have any queries please write to:

wzccme2016@gmail.com

Mobile: +971 50 515 8659 / +971 55 596 9746

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Hotels & Restaurants

High-rise Buildings

Specialty Buildings (airports, oil & gas, etc)

Palaces & Villas

Factories & Warehouses

Government Buildings

SpecialiSt contractor: Air conditioning & Ventilation Electro-mechanical services

P.O. Box 119479, Dubai, UAE Tel.: +971 4 282 3232  Fax: +971 4 286 8868 E-mail: info@climatecontrol.ae  sales@climatecontrol.ae  projects@climatecontrol.ae

the village office

FZE

www.climatecontrol.ae

At the village office, we believe the work place must be a culture that encourages pride in both personal and organizational accomplishments.

Servicing the Office furniture industry for over 3 years, the village office provides several European furniture ranges at competitive prices and high quality design.

Contact:Firdaush Irani 0555969746 tvodxb@gmail.com; firdaus@inpianta.com

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H. H. Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, calls for more interfaith tolerance for a peaceful future!

Dubai hosted the World Interfaith Harmony Day under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan, UAE’s Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development, on February 3, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Hotel.

It was for the first time that such a meet took place in Dubai which coincided with the World Interfaith Harmony Week (February 1 - 7, 2016) that offers a platform to all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill to gather and express their solidarity and work together to promote harmony and goodwill in the world. The event was hosted by the Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Dubai.

The organising committee comprised of Prof. Nasr Arif, Director of Islamic Civilisation Academy in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, UAE, Dr. Brian J. Adams, Director of Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue in the Griffith University, Australia, and Surender Singh Kandhari, Chairman of Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, UAE. The program was ably compered by Mrs. Kandhari.

The conference focused on "How peace at home builds peace in the world".

The conference began with the opening speeches by key dignitaries followed by presentations and discussions by political, religious, educational and business leaders. The conference concluded with a gala dinner and cultural performance.

Eighteen distinguished speakers from several faiths - Islam, Hindu, Catholic, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian, and Zoroastrian spoke at the event.

Addressing the conference Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia said, “Peace is generally described as absence of animosity and harmonious relationships. However, in reality, peace is the innermost state of each living being. It is a vast storehouse of inner strength that needs to be inculcated from childhood and then honed as an art throughout one’s life. Peace cannot be foisted from outside. It should emanate from one's own inner self."

He then added, like all other religions, Zoroastrianism is a holistic religion. It believes that positive thoughts lead a person to become positive and happy.

This gives him the peace within, and only that internal peace can lead him to being peaceful with others.

An important injunction in Zoroastrianism which he believes helpful is daily prayers.

Prayers bathe the mind and the soul with divine grace and keeps a person mentally fresh and spiritually clean so that no negative thoughts of discord or violence can get to him. Positive thoughts also lead to good health which keeps the person at peace with himself and others.

Thereafter, he explained that in Zoroastrian texts peace is defined in the following words: Vanghave mananghe ākhshtoish hām-vaintyāo. Taadhāto anyāish dāmān, āsnahe khrathwo mazdadhātahe, gaosho-srutahe khrathwo mazda-dhātahe“, meaning, a life of peace and harmony with all creations comes from a mind which is evolved so that it is free from vice, pettiness, and can effortlessly align itself to God.”

He added, "Zoroastrian holy books emphasise that progress and prosperity can be attained only through peace and harmony (Av. ākhshti).

The quest for peace starts from within one's self and then permeates in concentric circles to the house, community, town, country and the world in five concentric units.

The first such unit is nmāna “the house”, visa “village” zantu “township”, dakhyu “country” and zartathshtrotema “the overall authority.”

Another basic Zoroastrian teaching according to him is "fraspāyokhedhrām which means peace that results in progress. In order to achieve peace and harmony, it is necessary to have respect, tolerance and obedience."

Summing up, he said, once we understand that God is present in everything and everybody, it will be very difficult for us to hate anyone, as hating anybody would then be like hating God Himself. If one inculcates this attitude, and transforms it into a belief, then the worst storms of hatred would not be able to shatter the peace a person has within himself.

In Zoroastrian texts, "a desire for peace is expressed in the following words: vainīt ahmi nmāne… ākhshtāsh anākhshtām, meaning, in this house may peace overcome discord.”

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An evening where ME (Middle East) became ‘WE’

By: Nahid Elavia Shroff Entrepreneur and Advertising aficionado They rightly say, that first impressions matter a lot and if you ask me, I would say that WZCC ME’s first event of 2016 was in one word … WOW. As a new member, I didn’t know what to expect, but I must say I was truly inspired.

The aim of the gathering held on 12th February 2016, was not only to share the new vision and mission of WZCCME but to also introduce the Super Six, the new WZCCME Directors.

The evening started off on the right note with Cyrus Debara (Director, Youth Affairs) giving us a sneak peek into what to expect in the coming year and unveiling the plans for a great year of networking and business building ahead. He praised the efforts put in by the Founding Director, Meher Bhesania who incepted WZCCME in 2003 and soon turned it into a productive arm of WZCC. He also thanked Roomi Sarkari for the best efforts put in by him in the last six years as the immediate past President.

Porus Guzder the newly nominated President of WZCCME; reiterated that the young, dynamic team has a renewed focus on the mission of WZCC to reenergize the Zoroastrian entrepreneurial spirit. He in his welcome address said, “that it’s not just about what WZCC can give us, but about being mindful of what we can contribute to WZCC too.” He also introduced the newly elected WZCCME Directors or the Super Six as he called them to the audience.

Porus, then introduced the property developers Rohinton Patel and Akbar Kazi – of Navroze Enterprise, who had come

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all the way from Mumbai to showcase their two new properties “The Khorshed Mahal” & “The Najamai Mansion.” True networking took place between buyers and sellers.

This made everyone realise how powerful WZCC platform is. Many members approached the developers to understand the choice of the stylish 3, 2 1nd 1 bed room apartments being offered in Dadar. Such facility, right at their doorstep, presented a wonderful opportunity to the members in Dubai to view the upcoming properties in Mumbai.

This session paved the way for the next discussion by Nowshir Engineer (Director, Business Development) who spoke on the ‘Power of Oneness’. The WZCC film showcasing the benefits of membership spoke on 3 key things – Collaboration, Collaboration and some more Collaboration and had the Parsi stalwarts of the industry talking about how the WZCC as an organization that fosters a sense of WE, encourages and promotes entrepreneurship worldwide.

The so far engaging evening took an inspiring turn when the keynote speaker Mr. Alan Gordon (Head of Marketing, Majid Al Futtaim) started his session with an interactive exercise that made us realize that we had a combined experience of 2500 years in the room. He also shared his learnings on how events bring together people and can fuel growth for an economy. His case studies gave us a glimpse into how Dubai Shopping Festival was born, how Global Village has reached new heights and what to expect as part of Expo 2020. This session was not only educative but also inspired us

to see the Expo and the opportunities it brings in an all-new light.

Mr. Russi Patel senior partner, BDO Chartered Accountants & Advisors and Kersy Bhesania, Managing Director, Climate Control Co. L.L.C. then presented the WZCCME Award to Mr. Firdaus Irani of the Village Office for his contribution to the WZCCME Chapter in 2015.

The evening then took a fun turn with the young team that attended the New Zealand Youth Congress, giving us a glimpse into their journey and experiences and also showcasing their film “Aspirations of a Young Zoroastrian”.

The last session by famous RJ Vineet Sharma of Suno 102.4 FM brought the evening to a very entertaining end. His sing-along session of songs showcasing the musical journey of Indian films was an apt end to a lovely evening and had the audience both young and old humming along. The vote of Thanks by Kashmira Kotwal (The Treasurer) summed up the evening very succinctly.

This engaging, educative, entertaining evening ended with a sumptuous buffet spread out on the lovely Creek facing venue of the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club; as members of the WZCC ME chapter chatted away. I am sure that many a contacts were developed, new networks created and many future collaborations are now in the making…so like I said again it’s all about the WE. Here is to more such evenings as part of the WZCC ME chapter.

Picture Courtesy: Goolnaz Debara

Gavashni

Pictures from the WZCCME Event held at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on 12 February, 2016

WZCCME New Board Members

Porus Guzder, President, WZCCME & International Director WZCC Business Profile: Managing Director, Incentive Connections Tourism LLC & Ahura Transport & Limousine Services.

Firdaus Irani Chapter Chair, WZCCME

Business Profile: Owner & Managing Director - The Village Office FZE.

Nowshir Engineer Director, Business Development, WZCCME

Business Profile: Founder & Managing Director, EMDI Institute of Media & Communication.

Cyrus Debara Director, Youth Affairs, WZCCME

Work Profile: Sales and Business Development Manager, Cargo Industry, Dubai

Kashmira Kotwal Treasurer, WZCCME

Business Profile: Director, Cordoba Institute, Dubai

Wahbeez Wankadia Board Secretary, WZCCME

Work Profile: Assistant Marketing Manager, MENA region NALCO Champion, an Ecolab Company.

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eco-warriors

hav et

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Let 's

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Earth Hour - 2016

Kaizad Rimalwala "Earth Hour is a time to think about what kind of environment you want to leave behind for your children and grandchildren. With growing populations and ecosystems on the brink of collapse, drinking filtered tap water instead of bottled water and eating less fish and meat (producing 1 kg of beef uses 1500L of water) are a few ways to leave a better Earth for future generations."

Sherry Pithawala "On 19th March, 2016 my family and I observed the Earth Hour. It was observed by millions, across the globe to show their support for fight against climate change. I encourage the idea of observing Earth Hour, but most importantly it should serves as a reminder to limit use of electrical appliances, every day as part of our daily lives. So let’s save electricity whenever it’s not required for benefit our generations to come."

Fareez Guzder "I feel proud to have been a part of Earth Hour 2016! We turned off our lights, lit up beeswax candles and listened to the India vs Pakistan T20 commentary on the radio. I would have preferred watching the match on TV, but I am the future generation and this was my contribution! All individuals and the global community should participate responsibly in Earth Hour.”

Kaizad Bhesania "Earth hour is inspiring! It helps us to heal the planet and offers mother earth a chance to take some rest. I kept our house lights off all evening and played games with my family using candle lights. I wish we could do this more often and develop a good habit to switch off lights as and when they are not required."

Rayhan Rajwadewala "On 19th of March 2016 we celebrated the Earth Hour in Dubai for one hour where we turned off the electricity to save our planet earth. Once a year we get this opportunity to make changes in our environment and we have to continue doing this on a regular basis. I always turn off all the lights at home when not in use."

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Tiyan Cyrus Debara "Earth Hour is when the earth needs rest from all the power you take from it. In Earth Hour what I did was I switched off all my lights and lighted up many candles as possible. The whole house looked beautiful. One point I would like to make is - turn off all electronic gadgets when you leave home to save electricity."

Anaissa Firdaus Irani There was a dark, dark house ‌..

On a dark, dark street‌.

In a dark, dark city where everyone sat in silence How would we live without light?

Were we using it right?

And what would we do without it at night?

As we sat in the candlelight thinking about Earth Hour

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SADRA-KASTI-NAVJOTE - an important ritual in Zoroastrianism Nine parts of the Sadra

single fold at the shoulders girdeau sleeve seam (Reminds us to be industrious in every action)

sleeve seam

side seam (It places man symbolically in middle of the two worlds, the spiritual we have left back & where we have to go back) tiri small vertical seam (Reminds us of animal kingdom & look after them)

gereban (Referred as Kisseh Kerfe) side seam

MALE FEMALE

small vertical seam tiri (Reminds us of vegetable & mineral kingdom & look after them)

72 Strands

Constitution of Kasti

Tassel with threads 24

Why should I wear Sadra-Kasti?

The Sadra-Kasti acts as a divine armour.

It protects us from evil. It reminds us of the divine garment and girdle symbolically worn by divine beings. It gives us an identity to a community and religion. The practice of wearing of Sadra Kasti started from the time of King Jamshid, and was accepted later on by prophet Zarathushtra.

Why should I perform the Kasti ritual?

The Kasti cleanses us from negativities.

It helps us to be good, sincere, confident, strong and responsible. When the Kasti is performed with full concentration, it is beneficial to the body, mind and the spirit.

Why should my Navjote be performed?

The word 'Navjote' means “a new offeror of prayers.” On this day, the child gets the gift of Sadra Kasti and with it the responsibility of offering prayers.

While reciting the Din no Kalmo prayer, the child confirms the 4 Truths of his life.

They are: a. Ahura Mazda is my God; Zarathushtra is my prophet; Mazdayasni Zarthoshti is my religion and I will be faithful to my God, prophet and religion all my life. From the day of Navjote, a child becomes responsible for his actions. The Kusti prayers provide physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits. It provides a guide map for living a happy life.

Why and how many times should one perform the Kasti?

The Kasti should be performed in the morning, at the turn of each geh, after bath, before going to bed, coming home

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from outside, after coming from the toilet, after visiting places like the Dokhma or cemetery, before going to a sacred place like the fire temple, before doing our daily prayers and before attending rituals.

When recited with a certain awareness, the Kasti prayers motivate and inspire us to be good and forsake evil.

Why is there a Gireban and Girdo on our Sadra?

The Sadra is made up of white muslin cloth.

It has nine seams (Guj. nav saandhaa). Each seam has a special significance and serves as a road map for leading a good life. The Gireban in the front is the most important seam. It is a small pocket like pouch also referred to as 'Kisseh-Kerfeh' “the pocket of good deeds.

The Girdo is the seam on the nape of the neck. It is in the shape of a crescent moon.

It reminds man of his responsibilities to God, Prophet, nation, society, family and above all to his own self. All Sadras, either for men or women, should have a Girdo.

What is the significance of 'Tiris' on our Sadra?

The three tiris in the sadra are part of the nine seams. There are two angular tiris on the right and one parallel tiri on the left for Sadras of male and vice-versa for Sadras of female.

The three tiris instruct us to live in harmony with and take care of creations. Whereas the two angular tiris remind us to look after the animals and plants kingdoms, the parallel tiri is a reminder to look after the minerals, including metals.

Why do we face different directions while doing the Kasti.

Why do we not face the north direction while praying?

While doing the Kasti we face the east in the morning (havan geh), south/west in the afternoon (rapithwin geh), west in the late afternoon (uziran geh) and any direction (except north) where there is fire/diva/ electric lamp after sunset (aiwisruthrem and ushahin geh).

We face these directions as the sun is the biggest source of divine energy and the greatest living representation of Ahura Mazda.

There are two main reasons why we do not face the north while doing our Kasti: (a) In Avestan texts the north side is considered evil as the Angra Mainyu, the evil spirit, is said to reside there.

Moreover all types of evils collect in the north and emanate from there.

Can we make a knot at the centre of a Kasti if it is long?

A Kasti should generally be bought according to one’s size.

The length of kasti is measured in gaj. One gaj is approximately equal to 27 inches.

Depending on the size of ones’ waist, one should calculate the length of the Kasti leaving an extra about 10 inches for the looseness around waist, knots and laris.

Hence if the waist of a child is 28, the Kasti should be 28 X 3 +10÷ 27= 3.5 gaj.

As for knots in the Kasti, for small children it is okay to temporarily have a knot in the middle. For grownups it is advisable that the Kasti should not have a knot, as it is believed to interfere with the Kasti’s power recited through sacred verses.

Gavashni

Groundbreaking ceremony of the Shroff Medical Center, Mumbai On Sunday 28th February 2016 the groundbreaking ceremony of the Shroff Medical Center at the B.D. Petit Parsee General Hospital was performed. The Shroff family of Hong Kong donated US$ 22.5 million towards a state of the art hospital with over 200 beds. The project is slated to be completed in three years and will bring super-speciality capabilities to the Parsee General.

All Zoroastrians in the GCC region extend their warm greetings to The Shroff family in Hong Kong and the Petit family in Mumbai on crossing an important milestone and wish them well in future!

May, 2016

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Welcome home to beautiful Udvada

By: Meher Bhesania In the heart of an ancient nation a sacred fire burns. It hasn’t been extinguished for over 1294 years. Its mysteries inspired by the faith of millions, lies at the very root of what the Zoroastrians believe in today.

To define this, we will have to go back thousands of years to a place and time in Iran where our history began.

Udvada, near Surat is a small sleepy village located on the southern coast of Gujarat. It is home to the highest fire Iranshah. This place of worship is the only surviving example of its kind in the world which has established Udvada as a place of pilgrimage for Zoroastrians from around the world.

Busy Udvada town straddles the highway and rail-lines, while Udvada village is eight kilometers away from the station.

This is where the actual Iranshah Atash Behram is located. Originally known as the 'grazing ground of camels,' Udvada is best known for its beautiful shoreline, made of muddy brown sand and rocky terrains. The nearby area is inhabited by the fishermen community.

Walking through the narrow lanes of Udvada one experiences the ethnic charm of an ancient village with rich architecture.

The typical Parsi homes with their high ceilings, sloped roofs, ornamental skirting, and double (porches) over a century old are, all worth preserving especially for those wanting to enjoy life at a slower pace.

The glittering Iranshah consecrated in 1742 CE remains to this day the major attraction of the city. The 'boi' ceremony

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takes place 5 times a day at the change of each Geh. The fire is fed with sandalwood and incense, the bell is rung 9 times taking the hearth fire to new solemnity.

skills, the locals have a number of bakeries that tourists visit to eat Parsi specialities such as buttery mawa cakes, batasas, meltin-the-mouth khari and macroons.

Udvada comes to life when large number of devotees come to pay their respects to Iranshah, offering sandalwood, flowers and other religious paraphernalia to the fire. The ‘Salgiri’ celebrations of the Atash Behram, and other religious observances like 'Behram Roz' and the 'Parsi New Year’s day,' are special at Iranshah.

For the first time in the history of Udvada, the Iranshah Udvada Utsav took place from 25th to 27th December, 2015. It brought 3500 people approximately from around the world. The three days event gave a chance to the Zoroastrian community to chant, sing, pray and most importantly, imbibe their religious traditions with action and receive blessings from Iranshah our greatest King!

The event was graced by his H.E. Mr. Arun Jaitely, Finance Minister of India, Mr. Ratan Tata and Mr. Cyrus Poonawala amongst several other important dignitaries.

The angelic figures that guard the majestic entrance of Pak Iranshah add extraordinary beauty to the Atash Behram.

The Udvada Museum sponsored by the Government of Gujarat is a treasure trove of the most intriguing artifacts. The walls are adorned with summaries of the teachings and beliefs of Lord Ahura Mazda, the history of the Parsi's and the holy ceremony of the Parsis called 'Navjote.'

For visitors who are not familiar with the history of this community, this is the perfect place to visit and satiate their curiosity. However, the bedrock of Udvada’s culinary culture is the cluster of old and new hotels that have revived old and forgotten Parsi recipes. Signature dishes like Dhansak, Sali boti, traditional Boi, Aleti paleti and Dudh na puff are all time favourites of Parsis and tourists alike.

Vans selling Parsi pickles and masalas are thronged by visitors who also slurp on delicious homemade mango and sitaphal ice cream. Known for their excellent baking

Crusaders for Udvada's preservation are working towards declaration of the status for Udvada as a ‘Heritage Precinct' to protect the ancient residences and the Atash Behram.

For those looking for some peace and quiet, Udvada is the perfect getaway that combines both the town and country environment and oodles of food for thought and for the soul!

Gavashni

PAK IRANSHAH

Felicitation Ceremony for Mr. Ratan Tata, H.E. Mr. Arun Jaitely, Finance Minister of India & Mr. Cyrus Poonawala at the Iranshah Udvada Utsav on 27th December, 2015

May, 2016

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I need you -

a story with a morale

I was getting ready for my daughter's June wedding which was taking place in a church about forty miles away, and felt loaded with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle..... So many details, so many bills, and so little time.

My son Jack said he would walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.

The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancé Tim walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check.

When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black.

Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.

I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding and I certainly didn't have the extra money to buy a new set from the florist in town.

Tim turned to me. 'Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.' I mumbled, 'Sure,' as he bebopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.

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Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. 'Lord,' I prayed, 'please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!' I scurried out praying for the blessing of white magnolias.

As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house.... no dog in sight.... knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good. No shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed and said.... 'I'd be happy to!'

He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me.

Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, 'Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.'

‘No , Ma'am,' he said. 'You don't understand what's happening here.'

'What?' I asked.

'You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . . . . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. 'On Wednesday I buried her.' He looked away. 'On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left.'

I nodded.

'This morning,' he continued, 'I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much.

For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man?

Nobody!' I began to cry louder. 'Nobody

needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, 'Sir, I need you.'

I stood with my mouth open. He asked, 'Are you an angel?’ I assured him I was no angel.

He smiled. 'Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?'

'No.' 'I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone!

Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!'

On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, 'Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today.' But God found a way.

Through dead flowers. 'Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.'

Roshni Raimalwala Roshni is currently the Honorary Project Manager for the Care2share and Care4health initiatives promoted by Medulla, a Dubai based company, with a focus on Corporate Social Responsibility.

She is also an artist and specialises in glass painting.

Gavashni

A bright, modern and spacious Prayer Hall at Worli, Mumbai

A new prayer hall at the Vaikunth Dham funerary complex in Worli is a valuable gift (like many others) from the Parsi community to the city of Mumbai. The hall, which can be used by members of all faiths, has been built by the members of the Parsi community with an endowment from the A. H. Wadia Trust on land provided by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It stands next to a Japanese Shinto shrine in the leafy surroundings of the complex, which also has an electric crematorium.

With vultures having vanished from the Mumbai skies over the last three decades, the present system of ‘dokhmenashini’ has weakened considerably, leaving many of the community members with no option but to opt for alternate methods of disposal of the dead, particularly cremation.

As the Parsi-Irani Zoroastrians opting for cremation were not permitted to have obsequies performed at the Bunglis at Doongerwadi, they were compelled to use facilities at Public Municipal Crematoria, that were inadequate for conducting the funeral ('Paidast') ceremony, which had perforce to be done at the residence of the deceased or at other places and then brought to the crematoria for disposal.

The families of those who have opted to be cremated or buried had to face further inconveniences to locate facilities at which other post funeral four day obsequies could be performed.

There was therefore, for some years now, an unmet need for a well-constructed, well-maintained and conveniently-located Prayer Hall attached to a crematorium that could be used by members of the community opting for alternate modes of disposal.

After protracted discussions over the last few years, thanks to the untiring efforts of Mr. Jamsheed Kanga and Mr. Homi Khushrokhan, the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation (GMMC) agreed to allow The Prayer Hall Trust, (especially established for the purpose), to construct and hand over to the GMMC as a donation, a well-designed Prayer Hall on a plot of land within the existing Cemetery / Crematorium complex on E. Moses Road, Worli (opposite the Four Seasons Hotel).

The Prayer Hall, is a “L” shaped structure with a built-up area of around 3,700 sq. ft. The structure has 2 halls – one large and one small, which can be used as one large hall or partitioned-off and used as 2 separate halls when required concurrently for two funerals.

As per the GMMC rules, all Prayer Hall/s have to be open to all faiths, not just Zoroastrians. However, upon our request they have agreed that in view of our community members having taken up to construct the Prayer Hall, preference would be given in perpetuity to Zoroastrians for use of the Hall at the

times when our funeral and other 4-day prayers are conventionally held, viz between 7.00 am to 9.00 am, 3.30 pm to 8.00 pm and 4.00 am to 6.00 am.

The Prayer Hall will also be available to Parsi-Irani Zoroastrians for performance of the four day obsequies irrespective whether the cremation has taken place at any Cemetery / Crematorium complex on E. Moses Road, Worli or elsewhere in the city.

The Prayer Hall at Worli became operational from September 01, 2015; during the six month period September 2015 to February 2016, a total of 50 obsequies were performed of Parsi / Irani Zoroastrians who chose to get cremated.

The Prayer Hall has become an acceptable and sought after facility for the ever increasing number of Parsi / Irani Zoroastrians that are now gravitating towards alternate modes of disposal.

By: Dinshaw K. Tamboly

May, 2016

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Regional News – Bahrain The Bahrain Zoroastrian Association started the new Shehanshahi year exchanging heartfelt Navroz greetings on 18th August 2015. The close-knit members of the association congregated at Urban Dhaba in Adliya, where they celebrated the turn of the calendar with good food and jolly company.

To mark the Zoroastrian month of Dae, a Jashan was organized at the beautiful residence of Farida and Sarosh Aibara to give collective thanks to the Almighty.

Ervad Kaizad Sanjana led the ceremony, assisted by Ervad Hormuz Sidhwa. The air infused with the fragrance of sandalwood and the soothing intonation of prayer brought calm to all present. The rituals gave way to a sumptuous home-cooked

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lunch that was a cumulative effort by the ladies of the community.

Armed with adrenaline, the Parsis met in October to participate in the Treasure Hunt organised by BZA’s ex-comm. The teams revved up their engines and put on their thinking caps to crack the clues and follow a route toultimately discover the ‘treasure’. The hunt culminated at Desi Spice Restaurant in Zinj, where everyone enjoyed a rich Indian buffet.

In January 2016 the Parsis cleared their throats and exercised their vocal chords for a Karaoke competition held at the poolside of Behnaz and Kaizad Sanjana’s residence. Much laughter and music filled the air, as the gifted and not-so-gifted showed off their vocal flair.

Umami, in the hip dining district of Adliya, is where the bawajis met again to revel in the advent of Spring, as they celebrated Jamshedi Navroz in March. Honorary President Kaizad Sanjana’s brief talk on the history of this festival was followed by a fun (and in true bawa style, noisy) game of Bingo and dinner.

Again in March, the Parsis headed to the serene shores close to Ruehingize and Rayomand Palkhiwala’s home to pay their respect to archangel Ava Ardvisur Banu, on Ava Roj, Ava Mah; and then on to delicious snacks provided by the gracious hosts.

By: K aizad Sanjana & Nevil Malao

Gavashni

A New Dar-E-Mehr is Born in New York!

March 26th, 2016 will henceforth be remembered as a momentous day in the life of the Zarathushti community not only in the Tristate area but for all Zoroastrians worldwide.

The new building of the Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-E-Mehr was inaugurated on this Khordad Saal Day (Fasli Calendar) in Pomona, New York.

Home to both the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York and the Iranian Zoroastrian Association, the Dar-E-Mehr opening was the culmination of a 6 year process, or in reality; a decades long process, from the time the community organized itself in New York since the 1960’s.

The building of this new Dar-E-Mehr put the community through its biggest test, one of working united, fundraising, planning and getting the project to its ultimate culmination. The process was not easy, but it proved that with unity, passion, leadership and volunteer spirit, nothing is impossible.

To the 'first generation' of the community; this building designed by award winning architect Dinyar Wadia of Wadia Associates, finally plants their permanence in the “new land�, the new diaspora. To the younger adults today it raises the bar to achieve more in the years to come. And to the hundred and more youth present in the audience yesterday the building is now a breathing living testament to their faith and community, that they in the year ahead can feel proud of.

May, 2016

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Babbling Buttercup’s Diaries For the Love of Food…Jamwa Chalo Ji

wa Chalo Ji m a J

So you’ve all heard of the 3G principles of Zoroastrianism…Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds. But the world is now moving to 4G and how can us Parsis be far behind?? Presenting the 4th G of the Bawa world – Good Food.

One thing that unites Bawas all over the world is our love for food. Whether its Bombay (yes Bawas nu Bombay and we still call it that) or Dubai; from Auckland to Arizona our relationship with food continues to flourish much like our small community.

We may be traditionalist or new age, we may be near of far from our home countries but food is a great uniter and we all take great pride in our Bawa Style Signature dishes. One thing that stands out for me about Bawa food is how like a sponge it has absorbed and integrated varied influences from Persia to Gujarat, from England to India’s coastal regions and created a distinct cuisine.

Whether it’s our Dhansak or our Pattrani Macchi, from the Jardaloo Sali Boti (with strong Persian roots) to our Lagan nu Custard (very similar to a Crème Brule) every dish has a soul of its own and is something enjoyed across generations.

The amalgamation of ‘Khattu and Mitthu’ in the Tamota no Patio, the synergy of meats and vegetables in dishes like ‘ Guvar singh ma Kolmi’ or the famed Dhansak, the heavy usage of dry fruits in food are all testimony to a rich food heritage we should all be proud of.

And our food is making its mark whether it is our Non Bawa friends who keep hoping we get married soon and invite them so

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they can sample the now famous ‘Lagan nu Bhonu’ to the numerous Blogs that track the Parsi food history. From Parsi restaurants springing up all over the world to 5 star hotels celebrating food with a Parsi Food festival…Parsi food is surely making its presence felt on the global stage.

And as a true blue Bawi and a foodie one at that, whose married into a family that prides themselves on serving some of the best food at home, with one recipe or a tweak of it better than the last one and every meal ending with a discussion of the next one; here is my little ode to the Bawa love for food: Our ancestors used the food analogy of sweetening milk to start our stay in India and since then our food journey continues and will for generations to come…so like they say… Banooau anne Grahasto; Jamwa Chalo Ji.

One thing we love is food, For us fasting or dieting is no good.

Everything needs a Bawa touch, We love everything par eedu so much.

Lagan ma gaya toh what food we eat, Is so much more important than who did we meet.

To enjoy our food we need no reasons, There is a Bawa special for all the seasons.

Varsad ma Karkaria and thandak ma Vasanu, Khavanu, pivanu and maja karvanu.

Recipes passed down from Mamaiji and Bapai, We can’t do without our phudno and some leeli chai.

Wherever we may live or go, Our love for food will follow too.

By: Nahid Elavia Shroff Nahid is a foodie, an ideas person, a phone addict, an agony aunt, a budding poet and writer all rolled into one. Born and brought up in Mumbai she has just moved to Dubai and will share notes from her diaries on myriad topics that excite her.

By: Nahid Elavia Shroff

Gavashni

Indian Summer

- Savour your dining experience It serves a tempting Raan Shahi masala and maintains that its all time favourite, Butter Chicken, is the “best�. Guests can also indulge in a variety of succulent Kebabs and sea food preparations. The restaurant offers a full of range of vegetarian items, with more dishes being added to the menu seasonally.

As you step in to Indian Summer, prepare to be mesmerized. Designed with a modern, chic interior, it presents a unique spacious dining option with a restaurant, banquet hall and a private dining room, in the heart of Karama, Dubai.

The restaurant opened in Dubai with much grandeur on October 17, 2015, was graced by the presence of Miss India Worldwide 2015, Stephanie Lohale and since then has a steadily growing list of faithful clientele.

The owners of Indian Summer are no strangers to the service industry.

With 11 restaurants in Riyadh since its launch in 2005, they decided it was time to bring their food concept to the UAE. One can see a keen attention to detail, to not just meet but exceed expectations.

Indian Summer’s in-house chefs come with more than a decade of experience creating a variety of Indian as well as Chinese dishes.

Its kitchen believes in keeping it simple and authentic and offers a mouth- watering selection of North Indian cuisine and a choice of biryani, where their mutton and lobster biryanis stand out and have diners coming back for more.

The Chinese live kitchen, brings back memories of the cuisine being adapted to the Indian palate and offers soup, starters, mains, rice and noodle options on the menu, with a notably delicious Butter Garlic Prawns.

The newly launched catering division offers an elaborate menu which can be personalised through food presentation, live cooking stations and service to ensure a memorable celebration.

The restaurant offer its diners special promotions throughout the year and looks after senior citizens in a very special way.

A visit to Indian Summer is recommended to savour its many delicacies in a cozy and serene ambience.

May, 2016

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Not just a smile but smiles of Joy! By: Urvaksh Tantra Emirates Zoroastrian Youth (EZY) kicked off the autumn of 2015 by hosting the everpopular EZY Trivia Nite. Held at Caravan Restaurant in Al Muteena, Deira on 9th September, a bumper crowd of over 80 people were treated to an evening full of animal sounds, trick questions and random trivia! For the first time, EZY also organized a Kid’s Quiz for our younger generation. Of course, no event is complete without food, and a scrumptious Indian buffet was enjoyed by one and all.

EZY’s next event was organized to celebrate the National Day of the country we now call home. The UAE National Day picnic was held on 3rd December at Al Barsha Pond Park. On a bright and sunny day, families enjoyed picnic games, relay races and even an impromptu cricket match! Keeping with the National Day theme, a traditional Mandi meal was organized for all the hungry bawas and bawis.

The latest event was the EZY Fun Fair, which took place on 18th March at Al Safa 2 Park. Fair games, face painting, popcorn, street food and ice cream were the order of the day! Patrons both young and old chanced their arm at various fairground games such as ring toss, picking out coins blindfolded and knocking over a pyramid of cans, all whilst tucking into some delicious chaats and kebabs from our very own Parsi-run, Kebab Bistro restaurant.

It has been an action packed few months, with the promise of even more entertainment coming up. So, stay tuned and join in all the fun and good times!

Food For Thought!

Enjoy the little things in life because one day when you look back you will realise they were the big things!

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Member’s Corner – by Gool Navdar WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

Name: Viana Cyrus Gheewala

NAVJOTE MUBARAK

Navjotee : Gulnaz Batliwala

Date of Birth: February 17, 2016 Mother : Meher Cyrus Gheewala Father : Cyrus A Gheewala

Navjotee : Khaiz Cyrus Gheewala

Date of Navjote : 8 April, 2016

Date of Navjote : 29 April, 2016

Roj Ashishawang Mah Avan

Roj Meher Mah Adar

Mother : Zia C Batliwala

Mother : Meher Cyrus Gheewala

Father : Darius Batliwala

Father : Cyrus A Gheewala

WEDDING BELLS Nahid Bomy Elavia weds Danesh Firdosh Shroff Parents: Bomy Framjee Elavia

Pervin Firdosh Shroff

Shireen Bomy Elavia

Firdosh Jamshed Shroff

Wedding date : 15 November, 2015

FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS

Roshan Parvez Masalawala

Khorshedbanu Jehangirji Tantra

Aarish Choksi

Age 61

Age: 95 yrs

Age 35 yrs

Date of Demise - 16 January, 2016

Date of Demise: 5 February, 2016

Date of Demise: 9 March, 2016

May, 2016

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Inspiring Coffee Table Books Special price: Aed. 300/-

(for

2 books)

• For orders/enquiries please send email to bhesania@emirates.net.ae Fathers and Sons, Mothers and Daughters

Ashavans: A Legacy of Leadership

Individual Price: Aed. 100/-

Individual Price: Aed. 250/-

Legend has it that the bond between fathers and sons and mothers and daughters is one of the most profound bonds in life.

This book contains 40 inspirational stories of distinguished fathers and sons, mothers and daughters who have taken their family legacies to newer heights.

It talks about their special relationships they share with each other, recounting stories and remembering incidents that have brought them closer to one another.

It's a collector’s item and also offers glimpses into the lives of achievers such as Ratan Tata, Pirojsha and Barjorji Godrej, Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL, Byram Avari, Anu Aga, Areez Khambatta, Byram Jeejeebhoy, Homa Petit and many more...

Author – Meher Bhesania

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May, 2016

ASHAVANS: A Legacy of Leadership is a sincere recognition and approbation of the extraordinary lives of 101 eminent Zoroastrians and their outstanding success stories in diverse disciplines.

These exceptional men and women have made tremendous contributions to their fields as well as the community. In doing so, they have enriched not only themselves but the societies, countries and cultures they live in.

Author – Meher Bhesania