The International Everlasting Flame Programme is to be held, from 19th March to 29th May 2016, by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, MOMA, in collaboration with Parzor Foundation and the Culture Ministry of India. We are deeply grateful to the Government of India particularly MOMA for enabling the largest ever Festival of the Zoroastrians in the world. UNESCO has gladly endorsed the project.
This Programme will include three exhibitions, namely “The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination”, “Painted Encounters — Parsi Traders and the Community”, and “Threads of Continuity, at the National Museum, NGMA and IGNCA, Delhi.
Dr. Shernaz Cama, Director of UNESCO Parzor writes
Dear Friends,
There have been many developments since the Hon’ble Finance Minister of India announced the Everlasting Flame Programme 2016, in his Budget Speech. We are delighted that with the support of the Government of India, the world will come to recognize the importance of Zoroastrian civilization and culture as well as its contribution to world history.
Our EF Programme is the culmination of many years of hard work, possible only because of the support of people like you from many parts of the world. We are indebted to MOMA, Ministry of Minority Affairs, our Platinum Sponsor Mr. Cyrus Poonawalla, SOAS, Google Cultural Institute, the National Museum, Delhi for helping us create an event of such magnitude. I enclose a Schedule of Events, so that you can make your own Programme to be with us on this occasion.
Today, we are happy to share with you that Google Cultural Institute will help us make the Parzor Exhibition Threads of Continuity an Interactive Exhibition covering Zoroastrianism in philosophy and practice.
It is with immense pleasure that I also wish to share with you the Online Exhibitions that have been recently curated by the team at Parzor Foundation for Google Cultural Institute –to enable a virtual experience of Zoroastrian Heritage.
Having launched Parsi Zoroastrians: From Persia to Akbar’s Court – https://goo.gl/pMb058 last year, we now share with you a Series of three Exhibitions on the Kusti – the sacred girdle worn by Zoroastrians on their waist. To do justice to this complex living tradition, we have divided our Research into three exhibitions.
The First Exhibition Kusti-The Sacred Cord – https://goo.gl/0HSJkz explains the significance of the girdle in Zoroastrian worldview and the ritual ceremony of the Navjote, in which a young Zoroastrian makes an active choice to be a ‘Hamkar’ – the agent of Ahura Mazda in this world.
The Second and Third Exhibition explain the coming together of the extraordinary in the everyday as Spinning the Kusti – https://goo.gl/gRG7eT and Weaving the Kusti – https://goo.gl/ODLZ9b give a detailed explanation of the craft of weaving, where religion, culture and technique blend in making the Sacred cord.
The Exhibitions, we hope, will engage you using photographs, video and textual descriptions. We would be most happy to see your further interest in knowing about the Kusti, for which we may kindly recommend our book titled Threads of Continuity available for ordering on Parzor’s website www.unescoparzor.com .
Lastly, we also share a Fourth exhibition – Jamshed-i-Navroze – https://goo.gl/0bsblW , way in advance of March 2016, hoping that it tempts you to turn up for the Everlasting Flame Programme 2016.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Shernaz Cama
Director UNESCO Parzor
Parzor Foundation
The Everlasting Flame Programme
The International Everlasting Flame Programme is to be held, from 19th March to 29th May 2016, by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, MOMA, in collaboration with Parzor Foundation and the Culture Ministry of India. We are deeply grateful to the Government of India particularly MOMA for enabling the largest ever Festival of the Zoroastrians in the world. UNESCO has gladly endorsed the project.
This Programme will include three exhibitions, namely “The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination”, “Painted Encounters — Parsi Traders and the Community”, and “Threads of Continuity, at the National Museum, NGMA and IGNCA, Delhi.
The following is a brief overview of the events planned.
Opening Event at Vigyan Bhavan, Forenoon, on 19th March 2016, by Invitation only. All Conference Speakers will be invited.
Programme
- Penaz Masani, Ghazal Singer, singing Parsi prayer song (Monajat) 3 minutes.
- Parzor-Google Film Experience: 10 minutes.
- Inauguration of National Museum exhibition Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination, 4pm on 19th March.
- Inauguration of NGMA exhibition “Painted Encounters — Parsi Traders and the Community” on 20th March.
- Inauguration of Threads of Continuity at IGNCA at 11am on 21st March by Minister of Minority Affairs.
- All Cultural Programmes are courtesy Parzor Platinum Sponsor, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, who is also the Host subsidizing The Navroze Festival and Feast.
- Navroze celebrations on 21st March, begin from 4pm, with Navroze Tables from India and Central Asian Countries who are partners of the UNESCO Parzor ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) Programme.
On 21st March the Parzor Programme at IGNCA will include:
- Bringing in the New Year, 4 pm – with Traditional Navroze Tables.
- Dance performance by renowned Artiste Astaad Deboo.
- Parsi Feast hosted by Platinum Sponsor at IGNCA Lawns. Sponsored tickets will be available. All Delhi Parsi Anjuman Members will be provided a special rate.
- A two-day Academic Conference, Zoroastrianism in the New Millennium, MoMA- Parzor-NMI collaboration on the 22nd and 23rd March.
This will bring together academicians and audience from East and West sharing views with Panel discussions on 22nd and 23rd March.
Workshops, Cultural Performances, and a Film Festival will run through the period of the Programme to reiterate the support India has always provided to a micro-minority.
Glimpses into the Programme:
- A Puppet Theatre Performance by Ishara Founder, Dadi Pudumjee ( Early April).
- Yazdi Karanjia’s Troupe from Surat gives a Parsi Theatre Performance (Early April).
- Fashion Show by India’s famous Designer, Wendell Rodericks and our own Parzor Member Ashdeeen Z. Lilaowala on Zoroastrian themes and symbols. (Early April).
- Google – Parzor Art Talks coming for the first time to India. (April to end May).
- To Participate and get further details please contact Kritika Mudgal or Vanshika Singh, Parzor at mudgal.kritika@gmail.com and vanshikaa.singh91@gmail.com .
- Conservation Workshop at National Museum with participants from INTACH and Meherjirana Library, Navsari, etc. For bookings of Organizations please contact Joyoti Roy at museumreforms@gmail.com , nationalmuseumoutreach@gmail.com or Ruchira at ruchira.verma86@gmail.com.
- Stained Glass Workshop by Katayun Saklat of Calcutta. Two paid sessions with a Certificate of Participation to be awarded. (25th March to 30th March and 1st to 5th April). For enrollment contact Kritika Mudgal.
- Shahnameh Exhibition for one week with display of models by Silloo P. Mehta of USA. (End March to 7th April )
- Film Festival: Inaugural Session on 23rd March at IIC, India International Centre with David Adams Screening and discussing his 11 hour Epic ‘Alexander’s Lost Kingdom’.
- Film Festival from 1st April to 20th May. Chaired by Shernaz Italia and Dushyant Mehta to run every Friday for 8 weeks along with Photographic Exhibition by and on the community. It will screen both Classics of Zoroastrian Cinema while a Competition, to be announced shortly, will encourage young Film Makers and photographers. Contact Mahtabb Irani for details at mahtabb@gmail.com.
- Puppetry Workshop, Dadi Pudumjee and Ishara. IGNCA. Contact Kritika and Vanshika for Registration.
- SOAS Centenary Day. Further details will be available shortly.
- Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune Centenary Day with Public Programme explaining the importance of this great institution for Oriental Research, its Collections and contributions. (May ) Further details will be available shortly. (May)
- CDAC Day, (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune) Modern Technology preserving Heritage, texts in ancient languages, and Cultural revival (Avestan, Sanskrit etc.) ( May).
- Toran and Kusti Weaving Workshops. IGNCA. Participation and Registration on first come first served basis. (April).
- Learning Parsi Embroidery from the Masters. IGNCA. Participation and Registration on first come first served basis. (April).
- Iranian Choir Performance. (To be confirmed).
- Regular Evening Presentations every week on aspects ranging from Zoroastrian Seminary Training of Young Priests to Book discussions etc.
- Planned Tours for Children with Trained Professionals.
- Friday Muskil-e-Asan participative Story Telling at IGNCA.
- Parsi and Irani Food Courts at all Venues.
- Books and Craft and Audio Visual material available at stalls in all Venues. Specially commissioned illustrated story books on sale at unbelievable prices.
- Reading Section at IGNCA as well as Film Screening on loops.
- Bookings and Stays can be arranged at Central locations; the Delhi Parsi Anjuman Guest House, IIC, IHC, Delhi Gymkhana Club, USI Club and Home Stays at Parsi Residences. Please contact Vanshika and Kritika.
The Government of India and UNESCO have only ONE request.
That the Everlasting Flame Programme attracts Zoroastrians from every part of the world and makes them understand the need to foster their civilizational heritage.
We need YOUR HELP:
- To bring Trains from Gujarat villages with School Children and Youth.
- Youth Associations from each part and each community of India.
- Parsi Schools of Bombay and Gujarat.
- Encourage all those from India, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Central Asia as well as the Zoroastrian Diaspora in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, US, Canada and Europe to participate in large numbers.
- The EFP has been created with a Long Term Aim of Fostering Educational, Cultural and Social Links between Zoroastrians and all those interested in The Heritage of Humanity.
THANK YOU AND USHTA TE
