Iranians in India - the Model Minority

[angeldust]

A kid doing his kusti prayers (we are supposed to pray 5 times a day at the change of every geh, but the pressures of modern life means that most Parsis pray twice - once in the morning after our bath, and once at night before going to bed).

In the morning we face east. At night (after sunset) we face west. We never sleep with our head facing south.

We wear our prayer topi when we pray or when we enter our fire temples or are in front of the holy fire (atash). Ladies cover their head with a scarf or maathubanu. Pre-pubescent girls can wear the topi (but its more ornamental with a lot of zari for them - for us its either black or blue or red velvet).

 

[KS]

Some one tell Mr.Ratan Tata to marry.....The Tata legacy should not end with him.

 

[angeldust]

Some one tell Mr.Ratan Tata to marry.....The Tata legacy should not end with him.

There are other Tata's. And Ratan is not a Tata by blood.

 

[livingdead]

There are other Tata's. And Ratan is not a Tata by blood.

Was he adopted.?

 

[angeldust]

Yes. But from a close relative. So he is a Parsi by blood.

 

[IND151]

^^ yes

in every generation a intelligent and visionary man close to the TATA family (relatives or distant relatives i think) is elected as heir and then he becomes TATA

this true at least for last 2 to 3 generations of TATA

 

[angeldust]

^^ yes

in every generation a intelligent and visionary man close to the TATA family (relatives or distant relatives i think) is elected as heir and then he becomes TATA

this true at least for last 2 to 3 generations of TATA

I'm pretty sure that is not correct bro. Before Ratan there was JRD who was Tata by birth. Who else are you referring to? Ratan Tata became a Tata long before anyone could judge his intellect or vision.

 

[Punjabbi Munda]

The only anti islam comment was made by Surenas who is Iranian himself/herself and was politely requested by the OP to not make this an anti islam thread.



Other than that how on earth is this thread even remotely anti Islam Enough of this victim mentality, no the whole world is not out there to get muslims. Its gonna be ok!

Leave the Pakistanis..they can't get over their paranoia and see Islam bashing,Hindutva everywhere..Brainwashed dotheads!

I came across the longest parsi surname...
Mr.SodaBottleOpenerWala..
Sarthk Sodabottleopenerwala | Facebook

 

[angeldust]

The Zoroastrian religious calendar

The religious calendar is a matter of some controversy among Zoroastrians. There are currently three main calendars in use: Fasli, Shahanshahi, and Qadimi.

The oldest Zoroastrian calendar ('Old Avestan') was evidently a seasonal one, but it is not clear how it was kept in harmony with the seasons. In later years ('Younger Avesta' and Sasanian times) the prescribed method was to add a month every 120 years, but none of the three modern calendars follow this tradition.

FASLI ('seasonal'): A religious calendar which is kept in harmony with the seasons by intercalating one day every four years, patterned after the Gregorian calendar. Naw Ruz (New Year's Day) is fixed on March 21.

SHAHANSHAHI (or Shenshai): The calendar of many Parsee Zoroastrians, including some of the more influential Dasturs (High Priests). It is based on a religious calendar which was theoretically synchronized with the seasons by intercalating a month every 120 years, but the intercalation was not consistently followed. Naw Ruz was observed on August 23, 1995. A recent proposal would reform the Shahanshahi calendar by bringing it back into harmony through the intercalation of whole months.

QADIMI ('ancient'): In 1746 a group of priests and laymen in Surat adopted the Irani calendar on the assumption that it represented an older tradition. The Qadimi calendar is one month ahead of the Shahanshahi.

Each month and each day of the religious calendar is presided over by a spiritual being; special prayers (from the Khorda Avesta) are observed in honor of that spiritual being. Days where the same spiritual being presides over both month and day are particularly sacred.

Significance of the names

The first seven days celebrate Ahura Mazda and the Amesha Spentas, (lit. Beneficent Immortals) sometimes called the Archangels. They are the highest spiritual beings created by Ahura Mazda.

1. Ohrmazd (Av. Ahura Mazda) The Lord of Wisdom, Zarathushtra's name for God
2. Vohuman (Av. Vohu Mano) Good Mind or Purpose. Presides over animals.
3. Ardwahisht (Av. Asha Vahishta) Highest Asha. Presides over fire.
4. Shahrewar (Av. Khshathra Vairya) 'Desirable Dominion'. Presides over metals.
5. Spandarmad (Av. Spenta Armaiti) Holy (or Beneficent) Devotion. Presides over the Earth.
6. Hordad (Av. Haurvatat) Wholeness (Perfection or Health). Presides over the waters.
7. Amurdad (Av. Ameretat) Immortality or Life. Presides over plants.

The second week celebrates LIGHT and NATURE:

8. Day-pa-Adar (Av. Dadvah) The Creator's day before Adar.
9. Adar (Av. Atar) Fire
10. Aban (Av. Aban) Waters
11. Khwarshed (Av. Hvar Khshaeta) The Shining Sun
12. Mah (Av. Mah) The Moon
13. Tishtar (Av. Tishtrya) The Star Sirius, brightest star in the heavens
14. Gosh (Av. Geush) Sentient Life or the Ox-Soul

The third week celebrates moral qualities:

15. Day-pa-Mihr (Av. Dadvah) The day of the Creator before Mithra
16. Mihr (Av. Mithra) Yazad of the Contract
17. Srosh (Av. Sraosha) Yazad of 'Hearkening', i.e. paying attention
18. Rashnu (Av. Rashnu) Yazad of Truth
19. Frawardin (Av. Fravashis) The Guardian Angels
20. Warharan (Av. Verethraghna) Victory, Triumph over evil
21. Ram (Av. Raman) Peace, Joy
22. Gowad (Av. Vata) Wind, atmosphere

The fourth week celebrates religious ideas:

23. Day-pa-Den (Av. Dadvah) The day of the Creator before Den
24. Den (Av. Daena) Religion, also Inner Self or Conscience
25. Ashi (Av. Ashi) Blessings or Rewards
26. Ashtad (Av. Arshtat) Rectitude, Justice
27. Asman (Av. Asman) Sky
28. Zam (Av. Zam) Earth
29. Mahraspand (Av. Mathra Spenta) Holy Word (Manthra), also specific sections of scripture with certain poetic and spiritual properties
30. Anagran (Av. Anaghra Raocha) Endless Light

Watches (gahs) of the day:

Many prayers are altered according to the time of day.

Hawan (sunrise to noon)
Rapithwin or Second Hawan (noon to 3 p.m.)
Uzerin (3 p.m. to sunset)
Aiwisruthrem (sunset to midnight)
Ushahin (midnight to sunrise)

Source - Zoroastrian Religious Calendar

 

[angeldust]

Parsi Garas - Precious Heirlooms

Most Parsi households have a Gara sari that has ben in the family for generations. The older of these are around 300 years old. It is an ancient form of Chinese silk embroidery very popular amongst noble/rich Parsi women from a few centuries ago. The greater your land holdings, the more garas one had. Each gara is handmade and has to be especially commisioned/ordered, taking around 6 months to a year to complete. Garas were not made in modern times till a Parsi lady called Naju Davar re-kindled the lost art, so that modern Parsi ladies who do not have a gara in the family have the chanc to own one too. However, these do not come cheap and can set you back by a few lakhs at least. Not to mention huge waiting lists and the pressure to be one of a kind unique. These garas are passed down from mother to daughter and are easily more prized than gold ornaments and precious stones.

 

[Surenas]

Does somebody know if Parsi's have been mixing with the local population, because some Parsi's look a bit like Iranians and some look more Indian?

 

[angeldust]

Does somebody know if Parsi's have been mixing with the local population, because some Parsi's look a bit like Iranians and some look more Indian?

The issue is not so much about whether Parsis have been mixing with the Indian gene pool.

The issue is more about how pure is the current Iranian gene pool when compared to the original Persian Aryan gene pool.

 

[curioususer]

Does somebody know if Parsi's have been mixing with the local population, because some Parsi's look a bit like Iranians and some look more Indian?

please point out indian looking people from the photos.

One of my close Hindu friends said the same when he went the whole hog through a big fat Parsi wedding. As ancient Aryan faiths, I do suppose there will be more than a few uncanny resemblances that have survived to the modern age. The fire being the central theme is one such. The investiture/thread ceremony is another (though in our's its for both genders). I have heard Hindu priests chant, and obviously ours chant too. If you do not concentrate on the exact words and just the rhythm and sound, it is difficult to make out the difference.

thread ceremony in hinduism is only for brahmins(males only). not for people of other castes.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Hmm... Surprised to see except for Surenas , no other Iranian has taken any interest in this thread even though this is about a people with Iranian origins and the old Iranian culture and religion . Any way doesn't matter , these people are 'our people' now and we are proud of them .

 

[kingkobra]

please point out indian looking people from the photos.



thread ceremony in hinduism is only for brahmins(males only). not for people of other castes.

thread ceremony is for all four varnas..but only brahmins do it nowadays...I know some communities like Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu in maharastra that do it too..