Submitted by Gulnar Bhagwagar, Zoroastrian Association of Arizona

For a community whose major problem is its dwindling numbers, the bonding of Zoroastrians from different parts of the world, of getting to know each other better and sharing and understanding each other’s customs is of utmost importance.

Sunday the 26th of January, 2020, marked the very first collaborative event between the Iranian AZA (Arizona Zoroastrian Association) and ZAAZ (Zoroastrian Association of Arizona) comprising Parsis of India and Pakistan. Together they celebrated the Jashan-e-Sadeh festival, in Phoenix, Arizona. It was a beautiful winter morning in Arizona when 90 Zoroastrians, men, women and children from both the associations got together for a combined celebration of Sadeh.

Sadeh is an Iranian Zoroastrian festival that dates back to the first Persian Empire, the Achaemenids. ‘Sadeh’ in Persian means 100. It is celebrated 50 days before the Persian Nowruz and adds up to 100 days and nights before Nowruz, the beginning of Spring, on 21st March. It is a festival to honor fire and defeat the forces of darkness; a time to welcome the warmth and greenery of Spring, while saying goodbye to the cold and dark of winter.

Some adjustments and changes had to be made to the celebration of this festival in USA, because one cannot light a bonfire in a public place. So the bonfire was set up in the BBQ. Children from both Associations, AZA and ZAAZ walked in procession with lit candles to the bonfire at sunset. The children then led the congregation in prayer, with everyone’s heads covered in white scarves or  ‘topis ‘ (caps). It was a moving, warm and wonderful feeling of faith and togetherness.

Any Zoroastrian event is incomplete without food and drink and this get together was no exception. Two huge picnic tables overflowed with delectable delights, from bhelpuri and samosas to traditional Iranian fare like kotlets, dolmah and the famous ‘ash’ a soup made with herbs, beans and curd. There was also pizza, chips ‘n dip, fruit and salad platters and so many desserts. A ‘must’ at every Iranian event is hot tea and there was a tea station set up at one end.

Both the AZA and ZAAZ committees had organized some games and Bingo. Bingo numbers being called out in English, Gujrati and Farsi, added to the fun! Altogether, it was a wonderful event and both associations hope that it will be a start of many such joint celebrations in the future. For my committee and me, it was one of the highlights of our term in office.

Article submitted by Gulnar Bhagwagar