Sunday, July 28, 2019 saw the second annual mid-summer Maidyoshem Gahambar hosted by WZCC’s New York Chapter along with IZA and ZAGNY. A big thanks to all who inspired this event, including the WZCC New York Chapter Chair, Darius Jamshidian, assisted by Yasmin and Jamshed Ghadiali, Behram Pastakia of Metropolitan Washington D.C. and several others. Over 270 people, with a contingent from Washington D.C., gathered at the Dar-E-Mehr in Suffern, New York for a full day of activities.

WZCC, The World Zarathushti Chamber Of Commerce, is devoted to building the renowned spirit of Zarathushti entrepreneurship. It facilitates networking, enhances trade and commerce, and helps to bring about global economic prosperity. The Gahambar draws a big crowd and provides WZCC with an opportunity to explain its valued benefits, to give its schedule of planned events, and to encourage membership. It also serves as a fundraiser typically generating $5-7,000. This allows the chapter to utilize the funds for WZCC efforts, including youth entrepreneurship development.

As people arrived in the morning, a reception was provided with tea, coffee and treats. People enjoyed the visual treat of Atash pictures from around the globe painstakingly sourced by Yasmin Ghadiali and Lovji Cama, as well as viewing a display of traditional Gahambar foods arranged by Darius Jamshidian and Yasmin Ghadiali.

Prayers, with recitation of the “Atash Niyash”, began in the Prayer Hall followed by the “Satum no Kardo” and “Doa Tandorosti ” in the Mail Hall. After prayers, Darius Jamshidian thanked the mobeds and requested young mobed, Cyrus Dadina to join him in offering a token of appreciation to each mobed.

WZCC President Edul Daver welcomed everyone and provided opening remarks on the work of WZCC, planned activities, its powerful growth, and new funding opportunities for business creation. 

Nawaz Merchant brought a special guest to the assembly, Simin Abadian of Washington D.C., and her daughters. They presented the Dar-E-Mehr with two framed pictures in memory of Simin’s late husband, Bahman Abadian. Bahman was an economist at the World Bank, had earned a doctorate in economics in India, and had served as a Mason Fellow in International Development at Havard. Sousan and her sister spoke lovingly of their father’s distinguished career, his character, and personal life. A moving tribute to Bahman from Sousan can be viewed at the YouTube address https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHSPSX6VQPg.

Jamshed Ghadiali welcomed and introduced the day’s esteemed speaker, Kersi B. Shroff, who gave a talk and presentation on “Atash Kadehs in Central Asia and the Caucasus”. To mention a small part of Kersi’s distinguished background, “Kersi B. Shroff, born in Karachi, received his schooling there at the BVS Parsi High School. He arrived in the U.S. in 1973. He is a founding member of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington, Inc. (ZAMWI, formed in1979), and co-author of its constitution. He has served ZAMWI in various capacities and was its President for two terms, 1995-1999. A highlight of his tenure was a visit to Iran to attend the World Zoroastrian Congress. An Attorney at Law, Kersi serves in the U.S. Federal Government as a Division Chief in the Law Library of Congress, a research arm of the U.S. Congress on legal issues involving international, foreign and comparative law.” Kersi is joined by his beloved wife, Alberta, and their treasured daughter, Gina, in his extensive pursuits. 

Kersi has travelled several times to Central Asia and the Caucasus to visit ancient archaeological sites. He has volunteered with Russian archaeologists at two locations in Tajikistan. The regions in which the archaeological remains have been found reveal the extensive reach of Zoroastrianism, well beyond the borders of Iran.

For a long time, archaeologists have revealed an interesting chapter in the pre-Islamic history of sacred architecture in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In ancient regions named in the Avesta – Chorasmia and Sogdiana, and the former Athropathena, territories now located in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan, Fire Altars, referred to as Atash Kadehs, have been found to constitute a special feature of the practice of Zoroastrianism.

The structure of the Altars varied in shapes and sizes. The Altars were positioned either adjacent to walls or in the middle of a chamber. The sacred fires were fed with wood, gas (naphta) or liquid petroleum, depending on availability. The Altars were rectangular, rounded and semicircle, according to whether the fire belonged to a house, a priest, or public place, or served the function of protecting against evil or danger.

Adding to the solemnity of the sacred space, the Atash Kadehs were placed in harmony with inscriptions, painted panels, and other mural decorations. Kersi provided a Powerpoint presentation to illustrate the array of Atash Kadehs and explain the symbolism associated with them. The audience could see the architecture and its details come to life through the visual presentation. Kersi explained that future archaeological work is in order and more treasures of the past await discovery, for our future understanding. Darius Jamshedian thanked Kersi for the enlightening talk and presented him with a  token of appreciation. 

Other enjoyable activities continued through the day. The WZCC New York Chapter held productive sales of delightful traditional foods, religious items, and a cookbook; as well as 20 Surprise Gifts, all contributed by generous members. The sales, new memberships, and voluntary contributions were successful, with about $6,000 collected for the chapter. New members continue to be recruited and new dues collected.

Snacks and lunch was prepared by Z-Goldies and several volunteers. The Gahambar menu offered a selection of Parsi and Persian Gahambar dishes. These included: snacks – Chicken Tikka, Sirog, Samosa, Komach, Kumas, Khari Biscuit, Haji Badam; lunch – Curried chicken with green peas, Shirazi salad, Masala Daar-Chawal, Aush-e-Rishteh (beans & noodle soup), Kachuber, Badamjan (eggplant stew) and dessert – Falooda, Baklava, blessed Fruits, Nuts and Ravo.

The mixed audience with Iranian and Parsi Zoroastrian attendees gave us a convivial environment for networking and meeting people. Kerman Dukandar documented the event in pictures. In the spirit of building community and sharing, Yasmin Ghadiali had arranged to collect stitch-less fleece blankets for needy children in Gujarat. She can be reached at yjghad@gmail.com for more information on this activity.

Jamshed Ghadiali, gave a special thanks to the event organizers, volunteers, talented members who painstakingly prepared items for food sales and generous contributors of silent auction and surprise gift items, on behalf of Yasmin who, after putting in an unbelievable number of hours, was unable to attend because of health reasons. We salute Yasmin’s enthusiasm, energy & commitment.

The organizers of the event, the WZCC New York Chapter Team Members, and their assists from DMZT, IZA and ZAGNY, had much delight in arranging the event. Doing something together and making it successful gives the volunteers a good feeling.

WZCC New York Chapter wishes to especially thank all the 270 attendees! We are enthused by your support and hope to continue raising WZCC excitement across the globe.  

Tea and coffee, even some more prayers, wrapped up the day. As all journeyed home, they could look forward to a new week inspired on a sunny Sunday by the lovely people of our community, our youth, and no less, the grand Zarathushti sacred fires and altars across the Asian plains.

Gahambar recap by Natalie R. Gandhi & WZCC-NY Organizing Team