Nowruz Message from FEZANA President, Homi D. Gandhi

Dear Friends, 

Nowruz Mubarak! May you have a happy and healthy Nowruz!  

This year, the Coronavirus pandemic may spoil your plans for bonding and celebration in person. We are being told that right now the best way to show up for those we care about is to not show up in person. But in this day and age, technology has provided us so many ways to stay connected with our friends and family.  Yes, it isn’t the same as connecting in person, but it is better than not connecting at all. Certainly, we come to Nowruz this year, with feelings of sadness, but also with hope. 

I write this message from California, where the Governor has issued a statewide “stay at home” order.  These are surreal times. Our community in Iran has been impacted by the coronavirus in a big way. In the past few days, we have assisted in getting aid to our community in Yazd, Iran to help the Zarathushtis there who are ill. The lives of healthy people all over the world is also impacted: Birthdays and graduations and proms are going to be missed. Incomes and investments are going to be affected. Social distancing will impact the mental health of children and adults. But we, as a community, can count on each other and that is a comforting thought. If you need support, reach out to us: FEZANA and your Zarathushti friends will help you in any way we can.  

We, as a community, have so much to look forward to and that is reason to rejoice.  This year, we will elect a new FEZANA President.  This year, with your help, we hope to raise $1.5 million USD by April 30th to fund a perpetual Professorship of Zoroastrian Languages and Literature at the University of Toronto.  And we prepare for the next North American Zoroastrian Congress in Houston at the end of this year and the next World Zoroastrian Congress in New York City in 2022.  

Our community is fortunate in being educated and well resourced: we can help and support each other around the world during this health crisis, we can bring joy from a distance and we can continue to work towards our future. 

My heartfelt gratitude to all of you who continue to work with me to be of service to our community.  I look forward to the new year and a healthy renewal of our planet and our people in the coming months.  My best wishes to you today and always. Nowruz Khojesteh Baad!

Sincerely, 

Homi D. Gandhi
President, FEZANA

Press Room

FEZANA represents a diverse and growing Zarathushti community in North America.

Guided by the blessings of AHURA MAZDA and the teachings of our Prophet Zarathushtra; the Federation was founded in 1987 It serves as the coordinating body for 26 Zoroastrian Associations and 14 Corresponding Groups in the United States and Canada.

The activities of FEZANA are conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, co-operation and unity amongst all Member associations, and with due regard for the principles of GOODNESS, TRUTH, REASON, BENEVOLENCE, IMPLICIT TRUST and CHARITY towards all Mankind.

:+: Baname Khoda Kshnothro Ahura Mazda