This is the land where the Parsis first settled. A land filled with rich history, cultural and legends of a community that became integral amongst Gujaratis. Walk through these lanes of ethnicity in Udvada.

Since the inaugural Return to Roots (RTR) trip and its success at returning Zoroastrian youth to their roots and reconnecting them to their Zoroastrian identity, the youth leaders of the program have been hard at work planning the next trip. The inaugural trip’s  impact has already spread across Zoroastrian communities around the world as RTR Fellows gave presentations at their local Zoroastrian associations and wrote articles about their life changing experiences. These Fellows are our community’s future leaders that will ensure a vibrant, global Zoroastrian community for generations to come.

The RTR Track B Tour will run from March 10, 2015 to March 22,2015 and will take participants to historic and cultural Zoroastrian sites in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat, with world-renowned experts and local guides explaining the cultural, religious and economic significance of the sites being visited.

RTR_Fundraising Drive

Click Here for Return to Roots Track B Press Release 

BEHROOZ KHALILI

The plan for building an artificial island in the shape of fravahar in the Persian Gulf is under completion .The agreed confirmation for this project has also been issued. This island is being built on a 6 million and two hundred thousand  square meter land measuring 3×5 km.This island is located in front of the outskirts of the historical Siraf Harbour in the Bushehr province. This island includes Boarding and lodging sites,Hotels,University, Solar Energy Center ,Playground,A big cultural International Hall for cultural speech and conversations etc…. Dr.Esfandiyar Ekhtiyari(The Iranian Zoroastrians MP) being the managerial member of this team informed us that in the near future  the plan for this project which is being supervised by 60 executives will be executed after final analysis.This project being unique in its own kind will be displaying something of its own kind to the generations to come.

Click here for more

Courtesy : Zaver Bomanbehram

Parsi anjuman (Parsi Dharamshala, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Near Delhi Gate Daryaganj crossing, New Delhi)

A no frills Parsi eatery run by Parsis, located in the premises of a Parsi Dharamshala & Fire Temple in delhi, serves authentic & YUMM Parsi food.

The waiting staff seemed to b on their toes. They did not talk much or smile much (inspite of my generous smiles) but were very very efficient and helpful.

There is a fire temple in the campus where non parsis r not allowed to enter.

There is also a banquet hall in the same premises that is given out on rent for family functions.

Food needs to b ordered a day in advance. Can b done in phone. There is no website of this place that we cud find. So checked Zomato for contact info. The phone number mentioned in zomato was just ringing.  Kept trying for 2 days and there was no change in fortune.

We had to mention the time of arrival and we entered the hall sharp at the promised time. We were allocated a seat based on the number of people we had in the group.

Food arrived soon after.

Everything was hot and fresh

It was just not the typical restaurant food. It had no feel of industrial assembly line kind of food but was like home cooked food. We all ate a lot but it did not feel so – I guess coz the dish had no extra oil, no short cuts etc.

Loved eating each and every dish and plan to go back again.

Dhansak is served only on Sundays.

Detailed Description – In case u have the Time to NJOY reading – Click Here

 There is a road named after one of the most influential men of the Parsi community – Seth Eduljee Dinshaw. It stretches from the Karachi Port Trust building to the Old Customs House and has been there since pre-Partition.

For years, this road has been ignored and it seems like the city and government are finally taking ownership in their hands. The Karachi Port Trust, Customs office of Karachi and the Sindh government have taken an initiative to restore the road to its former glory by working on the Eduljee Dinshaw Road Project.

“Karachi has a rich heritage where it had beautiful buildings and roads. This project will revive the city,” said Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad at the project’s inauguration ceremony on Tuesday. “We will also restore Empress Market and its surrounding areas. Karachi is a city not just of people who speak different languages but also those who practise different religions. This is a unique project which will revive Karachi.”

Click Here for more

Dear Friends,

With Best Greetings to you and your Family.

Thanks for showing interest in our IRAN Tour.

Attached you will find the Iran Tour Itinerary for May, 2015 as well as the cost.

Basically this is a Private Tour of Close Friends and their Families and Relatives with the sole purpose of getting the BEST at the COST.

With over 25 years of Touring Experience, my Last year’s Tour to IRAN for my Close Friends and their Relatives was a Grand Success & a Memorable Tour of a Life Time for them. I have been again asked by many of my Friends to conduct another tour to IRAN this May, 2015.

This Year’s Tour will be much Grander. We will crisscross most of Iran and will stay at top 4 & 5 Star Hotels in all cities and towns.

It is a well planned Itinerary taking the trip to important places and covering Most of IRAN. Our Tour will be limited to maximum 40 persons – no big crowd and no mess up.

Since this is a once in a life time tour of my Dear Friends, this tour will be Professionally handled and it will be the BEST at COST with Full Value for your Money with no compromise on the Quality of the Tour

Basically the program has been drawn up for 22 Days / 21 Nights. But considering my Dear Friends time constraints and budget in mind, I have given an option of 15 Days / 14 Nights.

The Price has been calculated to get the BEST of the Tour at the Minimum possible Price.

Ours is always a High Class Tour: We will be staying in the BEST of the Hotels with BEST of the Food and BEST of the Services.

The Tourist Season of Iran starts in the month of May because it is the Spring Season at its BEST. The Climate of Iran is Superb – Cool & Pleasant and far away from the Maddening Heat of India & the Gulf States.

This is a once in a life time opportunity to join this very well planned and cost effective tour. I am sure you will take this opportunity and join our Tour to IRAN. Kindly inform your Relatives and Friends about this tour. They will be interested in joining the tour.

So, if you are Cost Conscious & Want the BEST, then join us and have a Memorable Experience of a LIFE TIME.

Please be free to email me: KhodayarAttaie@gmail.com or call me on my Mobile Number: +918097003993 and book your name for the tour now.

Best Regards,
In the LIGHT of HARVESPTAVAN,
Khodayar

15 Days & 22 Days for MAY, 2015 F

IRAN Poster 2015

A peep into the history of Abyaneh, a small Zorastrian village in Iran

During my recent visit to Iran I had the opportunity to visit an astounding Zoroastrian village called Abyaneh in the central district of Natanz county, Isphan province. Zoroastrians in Iran have had a long history and is the oldest religious community of Iran that has survive to the present-day. This village is known for its traditional feasts and ceremonies. The history of this place dates back to the Sassanid dynasty which ruled Persia for 400 years until the Arab invasion in 651 AD. The village has scant population of 306.

As I walked down the village I noticed narrow and sloped lanes with houses located on the slopes. The houses seemed like they were placed on a stairway. The roof of some homes played a role of courtyard for other houses. The walls of the buildings are made of clay appear rusty red color due to the rich soil of ferrous oxide. The windows and doors are made of wood and every door has two door knockers – one for men which is heavier and makes a strong sound and the other one for women which makes lighter sound so it can be identified if the visitor is a man or a woman.

Traditional attire worn by women in Abyaneh

The source of water in Abyaneh is from the River of Barzrud. The climate is mostly cold. It has prolonged spring season creating suitable conditions for agriculture. The main agricultural products grown in Abyaneh are wheat, barley, potatoes and fruits such as apples, pears and apricots. Of late, carpet weaving has also become popular in the village.The natives of Abyaneh are believed to be highly educated. Most of them are engineers and doctors who work in cities like Kashan and Tehran. The language spoken there is Parthain Pahlavi, a different dialect of Farsi.

I was fascinated to see men and women still wearing traditional costume despite pressure from the government to change. Contrary to the other parts of Iran where the ladies don black chador, the ladies in Abyaneh wear costume which consists of a white scarf with floral design that cover their shoulder extending to the waist and waist downward they wear pleated skirt/pant. The women here are emotionally much attached to their wedding gown inherited from mother to daughter and in turn are expected to pass it on to their daughters. Men wear a felt hat, a long garment called ‘Ghaba’, a pair of loose pants and a pair of special shoes called ‘Giveh’I happened to notice a Zoroastrian Fire Temple in the village dating back to the Sassanid period.One of the mosques has an inscription on its door which specifies that it dates back to the early Safavid period (approximately from 1501 to 1722).

The original Fire Temple that has preserved the flame burning continuously since 470 CE is however, located in Yazd the capital of Yazd Province located in central Iran and consists of largest community of Zoroastrians.  Yazd is very sacred place for Zoroastrians because the temple is located here. Once in life time, a visit to this place is considered very privileged and fortunate. I am not a Zoroastrian but I was equally excited on stepping foot on this land of Ateshkadeh Fire Temple.UNESCO has proposed Abyaneh to be included in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage site. However, as per some reports, there is a proposed hotel construction in the pipeline and therefore this status seems to be at risk.Abyaneh is located about 327 kms from Tehran and can be reached by road via Kashan.

Visa details: Visa can be obtained from the consulate of Iran located opposite the second gate of GVK Mall in Banjara Hills. You need to submit two passport size photographs and a blood test report of HIV and Hepatitis B.Most important carry few scarves which is very essential. The minute you step out of the house, you have to cover your head.As far as safety is concerned, it is 100 per cent safe. Whether it is the crowded bazar or a mall, you will never experience any eve-teasing. People are very timid and courteous.The currency of Iran is Toman but at some time it was also called Riyal. One dollar is Toman 3,000 which is equivalent to about Rs 60.

From March 10 -22nd 2015, fourteen Zoroastrian youth from around the world made a journey to return, reconnect, and revive their Zoroastrian roots. This was the second trip run by the Return to Roots program. Started in 2012 by a small group of passionate volunteers, and supported by Parzor, the inaugural journey was held in December 2013-January 2014 to coincide with the World Zoroastrian Congress in Bombay, India.
The success of the trips are apparent not only in the transformational experiences of the participants but the overwhelming support of the community. This report will provide the details of that success and the plans for the program’s growth. We hope that after reading these pages you will feel as inspired and motivated to act as we have.

Click here for the report 

Zoroastrian Return to Roots is pleased to announce the opening of applications for Return To Roots 3 scheduled for 9-22 March 2016.

This is the first part of an account of the Parsis of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar. The second part deals with prominent Parsi settlers.

When John Chesson came to these hills to decide on the location of the new health resort we now know as Panchgani, he was accompanied by a Parsi gentleman, Mr. Merwanji Edulji Mistry. When their recommendation was accepted and the decision to develop the new health resort here was made, both of them bought property. Chesson, as is well known, built his house where we now have New Era School. Merwanji also bought property and built houses, among which are Panchgani Castle, and Aeolin Terraces. He was a bachelor, and after his demise, his properties went to his nephew, Rustum Dubash, who as a young boy had accompanied him on his expedition with John Chesson.

Rustom Dubash became an accomplished building contractor. Many of his buildings are still standing as beautiful as when they were first made. Most of the buildings of St. Peter’s School, and Kimmins School have been built by him. His family is the oldest of all the settlers in Panchgani.

Two of Rustom’s sons, Sohrab, and Pesi,  settled in Panchgani. Adi went to Ahmedabad. Sohrab continued in the building profession, while Pesi Dubash, an all rounder, was into a number of things. He operated the film projector at Batha School, ran a tuck shop there, did maintainance work there and also in St. Peter’s School, in addition to running his own fruit processing unit. He has since, sold his Panchgani property. His son, Xerxes now has a recreation park, Velocity, just outside Panchgani on the road to Mahabaleshwar. Pesi, now in his nineties, but very much alert sits near the ticketing counter, getting up with a welcoming smile when old acquaintances come to greet him.

Rustom Dubash had two daughters, Meher Contractor, and Gul Mehta. Meher became famous for her work on puppets. She was an all-India authority on this subject and received many awards from the Government for her research.

In an earlier article, I have written about the ‘Three most Beautiful Bungalows in Panchgani’. All three were built by Parsis. Dil Pazir was built by the well known actor-director-producer, Sohrab Modi. The other two, Meherbai House and Lawrence Villa were built by Mr. Pallonjee Plumber. As mentioned earlier, Meherbai House is now owned by the film personality, Aamir Khan. Lawrence Villa is with St. Peter’s School.

Another film personality to settle in Panchgani was the famous producer Mr. D. R. D. Wadia. He built Nakra House just before Taighat on the road to Mahabaleshwar. His son Sher, had a restaurant, ‘Log Cabin’ there after D.R.D. passed away. The house has since been sold and demolished. A new structure has come up in its place. Sher has bought a small fort, Pandavgad on the opposite hills, where he lives as a hermit.

In the early 1900’s a Parsi educationist, Mr. Navrosjee Billimoria started The Parsi Boys’ High School, later renamed Billimoria High School. This was the second Boys’ school in Panchgani, the first being the European Boys High School, later renamed St. Peter’s.  His sons, Burjorjee  and Rustumjee, continued with the school till the early 1990’s, when they sold it.  A few years after the Parsi Boys’ School was started, Mr. Savaksha Manekjee Batha opened his own Parsi Girls’ School, which became The S. M. Batha School. Mr. Batha also built a beautiful sanatorium, the Batha Sanatorium where Parsis could stay comfortably at a reasonable rate. The Batha Sanatorium has a number of small identical cottages on either side of a long central garden. A symmetrical masterpiece.

The earliest hotels were also owned by Parsis. The first was Hormusjee Satarawala’s Prospect Hotel, which his son, Dadi handled later. Then came Khambatta’s Mount View Hotel on Kerawalla’s plot, and Sohrabji Davierwalla’s Il Palazzo Hotel just below Prospect. These two hotels are still running, owned by  the descendants of the original founders.

A solicitor, Pestonji Kanga bought the entire hill between Kach Bawdi and Dulwich House. It became known as Kanga Hill. There is a very popular point below the hill, with a beautiful view of the Krishna valley. This is commonly called ‘Parsi Point’. Originally it was known as ‘Pesi’s Point’. It was a meeting place for Pestonji Kanga and his friends. Somehow, by common usage the name has got changed to Parsi Point.

Panchgani was originally the main centre for the treatment of tuberculosis. A hospital with all the latest facilities for treating TB, the Bel Air Sanatorium was started just a hundred years ago by Dr. Rustumjee Billimoria It was funded mainly by Sir Dorabjee Tata. Dr. Billimoria’s son, Dr. Bomi Billimoria spent the major part of his short life treating the TB patients, and performing all sorts of difficult operations to keep them alive. A completely Parsi venture, but benefitting all. Now, I doubt if there are any Parsis in the hospital, even among the employees, but Bel Air has moved with the times and is the leading place for the treatment of HIV in Maharashtra. Even so, a Parsi Trust in the U.S.A., Parsiana gave a generous donation to Bel Air, to enable it to start a Nursing College.

In Bhilar village, between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar was a very beautiful garden. The Bhilar Garden, spread over a vast area had over a hundred varieties of roses, in addition to a number of exotic fruit trees. It was a favoured picnic spot. I remember an ornate stone sun-dial. It had instructions to convert the local time, shown by the sun-dial to Indian Standard Time. The Garden was owned and developed by Eruch Hakim, another prominent Parsi.

A Parsi with a vision, who transformed Mahabaleshwar was Mr.Jal Irani. In the early forties, he started boating at the Mahabaleshwar lake, when most people considered it a very eccentric project. I have written about this in ‘Honorary Boatman to the Governor of Maharashtra’. No visit to Mahabaleshwar is considered complete without at least one boating experience.

The electric supply to both Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar was provided by a Parsi entrepreneur, Mr. Adajania. He had to close his business when cheaper power from the Koyna dam became available.

Right from the beginning, the Parsi community has been very prominent in Panchgani, though now they have dwindled to just about five or six families. We used to stay exactly opposite the Parsi Agiari. In my childhood, I used to watch the Parsis in all their finery crowding into the Agiari for their religious ceremonies. Next to the Europeans, the Parsis were the most respected community in Panchgani.

• Asif Merchant

http://dancingheartpanchgani.blogspot.ae/2012/11/the-pioneering-parsis-of-panchgani_24.html

This is the second of my two-part series on the Parsis of Panchgani and Mahableshwar
After Panchgani was settled, along with the Britishers, many rich Parsis settled in Panchgani.
The Virjees are among the oldest of these settlers. Mr. Pestonjee Virjee bought his house, Maidstone from John Chesson’s daughter. His sons, Pesi and Feroze joined him after they retired. Maidstone is a huge property with many bungalows. In their section they kept paying guests, and the rest was rented out. There was a big rose garden in front of their house. Feroze passed away many years ago. His wife Dolly still stays at Maidstone. About ten years ago we had the privilege of sampling some of her delicious Dhan Sak. Pesi passed away a few years ago, survived by his wife for many years, Daphne. They were a very pleasant couple, Pesi being ever jovial with his British accent and smart appearance, till the very end. Their grand daughter, Gita Choksy is taking care of her grand mother and grand aunt, as well as the property.
An ex teacher of Billimoria School, Mr. Jahina invested in a large piece of land at the beginning of Chesson Road. There he built a number of bungalows, which he would rent out. It seemed as if he was due for a very pleasant retired life, but it was not to be. Mr. Jahina had a very unfortunate experience. About forty years ago he rented out his entire property, Jahina Estate to some people to start a school. Being a very kind hearted man, the rent was fixed for a small amount since Mr. Jahina thought he was supporting a noble venture. After a few years, the tenants stopped paying rent, and refused to vacate even after the school closed down, taking full advantage of loopholes in the tenancy act. Mr. Jahina has passed away, but the happy news is that his daughter, Dhun, has finally managed to regain possession of this prime property. The tenants have finally been evicted.
Below Jahina Estate is a set of Bungalows which were known as Bhiladwala Estate. It was owned by a Parsi gentleman named Bhiladwala. I don’t know much about him. We stayed there for a few months in 1940 when we first came to Panchgani. I was one year old at that time. The Silk Research Centre was started here in the sixties. The property is now owned by New Era School.
Sohrabji Batliwalla’s Dhun Hall and Shirin Hall, next to Aeolin Terraces became Bristol Hotel. This property was later taken by the Shaikh brothers. There are two schools here now, Dawn Academy, and Scholar Foundation, which was started by one of the brothers who broke away to start his own school.
Opposite Bristol Hotel was the Batliwala Bungalow, owned by Dr. Hormusjee Batliwalla, the manufacturer of Batliwalla’s Ague Mixture, which was very famous in its time. It has since been demolished. Mr. Liaqat Shaikh stays in the bungalow that has come up in its place.
The biggest business in Panchgani was The Panchgani Stores, which was located where you now have Apsara Restaurant. This also included a bar and the Burmah Shell petrol pump. It was owned by Mr. Behram Irani. I have described it in detail in ‘Some Old Shops in Panchgani’. Behram’s brother Rustum had the Imperial Stores and the Burmah Shell petrol pump in Mahabaleshwar. While Behram sold off his business and migrated to Australia to join his sons, Manek and Shapur, Rustum remained in Mahabaleshwar. His wife was Municipal President a number of times. The business is now handled by his son, Zavare. Rustum’s grandson, Dr. Tuheed Irani is an eminent orthopaedic surgeon, who, along with his wife, Dr. Pheroza Irani are at present handling most of the work at the Mission Hospital, Wai. Behram’s sister, Manibai and her husband Eruch Irani owned a big bungalow near the Ghatjai Mandir. When they left Panchgani, it was bought by Mr. Bharucha. Manibai’s son, Dr. Fram Irani is the leading authority on In vitro fertilisation in India.
At the other end of Chesson Road, where it meets the Mahabaleshwar road is a bungalow set deep inside at the end of a long drive. From the outside you can only see the drive, flanked on both sides by casuarina trees. Very beautiful, with open spaces on both sides of the drive. This is Preston Bungalow, built by Dr. Faredoon Dalal. I am not sure who owns it now. Someone told me that it has been sold.
Originally, the Parsis had their Fire Temple near the graveyard, until a gentleman named Choksy contributed a large sum to construct a beautiful Fire Temple between Il Palazzo Hotel and the main road. We stayed opposite this Fire Temple for many years. In my school days, I remember priest, Dasturji Pawri. On Parsi holy days, Mrs. Pawri used to send us the most wonderful Dhan Sak we have ever tasted. This invariably had the delicious round kebabs made in the unique Parsi style. I haven’t had anything like that ever since.
Another prominent Parsi was Mr. Sethna, the grandfather of Monoo Sethna who has Strawberry Inn on the road to Mahabaleshwar.
When Minoo Sethna’s grandfather came to Panchgani with his wife and children, they were staying in Fujitora Bungalow, which is now Bora’s residence and agency. Minoo’s father was in Billimoria School, which was located in Albert House campus at that time. (Albert House is in front of Lawrence Villa, and is presently owned by St. Peter’s School). His three aunts were studying in the Convent.
Later, Minoo’s father donated a plot of land in Dandeghar village area to Billlimoria School for a playground. It is still there, known as ‘Sethna Plot’.
When Dr. Billimoria wanted to start the Dalkeith TB Hospital (Bel Air Sanatorium), there were a lot of objections from the British and Anglo-Indian residents of Panchgani. It was Minoo’s grandfather, along with Mr. Dhunjibhoy and Mr. Mundroina who persuaded the Governor to override the objections and allow the hospital to be started.
There were many more Parsis in Mahabaleshwar, but I can recollect only a few.
For many years the best and most expensive hotel in Mahabaleshwar was the Race View Hotel, run by the brothers Phiroze and Sohrab Dossabhoy. Set in splendid isolation near the top of the Mahabaleshwar hill, with a magnificent view, this hotel attracted the elite among the visitors to Mahabaleshwar. Smartly turbaned bearers serves sumptuous meals in their magnificent dining hall under the watchful eyes of Phiroze and Sohrab’s wives.
Other big hotela run by Parsis were Phiroze Dossabhai’s Dina Hotel, and Ripon Hotel, run by Koyar Mahabaleshwarwala. Mr. Teburas Satarawala had a big liquor shop in the bazaar. One of his sons, Kersi later became Governor of Punjab. Another son was the famous General, Jehangir Satarawala.
Between the bazaar and the Roman Catholic Church in Mahabaleshwar is the restaurant, Nukkad. For years this was the workshop of Mahabaleshwar’s only car mechanic, Piloo Ranji. Practically all the present mechanics have learnt their skills from Piloo Ranji’s assistants.
Sir Dinshaw Petit is credited with the creation of the Petit Library and Gymkhana, opposite the Nukkad restaurant. This magnificent structure was home to a huge collection of books in addition to having a card room and a billiard table. I have no idea what is there now.
Parsis have played a very important role in the creation of the two hill stations, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. This needs to be acknowledged, especially since they are not as prominent now as they were earlier. In these two articles I have tried to make amends for this neglect, but there are to be many mistakes. I would welcome corrections and more information, especially since I must have left out so many. Please use the ‘comments’ box to rectify this, or click on ‘contact’ to write to me directly. Thanks.

• Asif Merchant

http://dancingheartpanchgani.blogspot.ae/2012/12/prominent-parsi-settlers-in-panchgani.html

The Zoroastrian Return To Roots Program will be continuing this March with their third trip to India. FEZANA has been a proud supporter and sponsor of the program right since inception and youth from North America have formed the majority of participants in the last two programs.

If you are a Zarathushti youth between the ages of 22-40 we urge you to consider participating.

If you are a parent/grandparent do encourage your kids, grandkids, nephews, nieces and anyone else who may be eligible to participate in this fantastic program.

A message from the organizers

The Zoroastrian Return to Roots is pleased to announce the opening of applications for Return to Roots 3 Trip scheduled to take place from 11th to 23rd March 2016. This will be the third tour after the first two very successful tours in 2013-14 and in 2015.

The aim of Zoroastrian Return to Roots is to bring together young Zoroastrians from across the world between the ages of 22-40; to return to their roots, reconnect with their culture, and revive the community. Participants (‘Fellows’) will explore various significant Zoroastrian historical, religious, cultural, and archaeological sites in India over a trip of 12 days.

The itinerary will take participants to Mumbai, Gujarat and New Delhi. The tour in 2016 is unique from the previous two since it will overlap with a series of exhibitions and events being organized by PARZOR and the Government of India in New Delhi from the 19th to 23rd of March.

One of the key aims of this program is to foster a sense of community amongst Fellows and for individuals to contribute to the institutions they visit as well as the program even after they have participated. Another aim of the trip is for participants to understand and realize the influence Parsis have had on modern-day India. Fellows also understand and experience first-hand the meaning behind our long-standing religious customs and traditions.

Fellows from previous trips returned from India with a deep understanding and appreciation for our small but powerful community. They are becoming more involved with their local Zoroastrian associations, giving back to the community, and encouraging other youth to participate in Return to Roots.

Applications close on February 15, 2016.

We encourage applicants to apply using the following link (http://zoroots.org/ ) before the deadline and approach one’s local community members and associations for funding and sponsorship. Applications are accepted on a rolling-basis.

Return To Roots website: www.zororoots.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZoroastrianReturnToRootsProgram/

2016 Trip Program: http://zororoots.org/2016-return-to-roots-tentative-itinerary/

To Apply: http://zororoots.org/apply/

Fellows and Alumni: http://zororoots.org/category/fellows/

Image Gallery: http://zororoots.org/gallery/

A group of eight retired people decided to visit the Kanha National Park in Jabalpur. We had tentatively booked rooms in a hotel, but it was working out very expensive. On the Internet we found that the Parsi Dharamshala in Jabalpur charged Rs 300 per room per night for two persons and we decided to brave it out, booking a stay for two nights and three days.

 Prayer room in Jabalpur Dharamshala; caretaker Behroze Dossabhoy (inset)

On our arrival we were surprised to find that the Dharamshala was well maintained and had clean and comfortable rooms. There being no agiary in Jabalpur, the Dharamshala had a well-kept prayer room. The lady with whom we had spoken over the telephone for making the booking turned out to be 85-year-old Behroze K. Dossabhoy who worked with pride and passion, serving us good meals at breakfast and dinner — scrambled eggs, akuri, chicken with potatoes and peas as well as mutton vindaloo. She was very obliging. On the third morning when we were leaving at 5 a.m. she insisted on providing us morning tea which was greatly appreciated.

We bless the Jabalpur Anjuman for having such a fine caretaker.

DINSHAW ADENWALLA
Mahim Association – Parsis
djadenwalla@gmail.com

The Sanatorium at Sanjan is the result of a munificent donation received by the WZO Trust Funds from the generous Trustees of Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Deed of Settlement Fund. The Sanatorium became operational on 23rd September 2001 and has over the years become a popular retreat for community members.

The WZO Trust Funds Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Sanatorium at Sanjan is a palatial bungalow, comfortable rooms radiating with understated elegance, a huge front yard where a beautiful garden, the like of which is rarely seen, is always in full bloom, a backyard that has a planned mango orchard, coconut tress growing along the boundary, palm trees and many others all combine in harmony to create an ambience without parallel. The pollution free environment complements the trees, the flowers and the fauna.

The very name of Sanjan conjures up nostalgia and sentiment in the heart of every Zoroastrian, for it was on the shores of Sanjan in Gujarat that we Zoroastrians received sanctuary when our revered ancestors landed 1385 years ago to preserve our faith. That we Zoroastrians, proud and patriotic citizens of Mother India were given not only sanctuary over thirteen centuries ago, but permitted to retain and follow our faith in an era when it was not an easy task to retain a religious identity not followed by the rulers of the day is indicative of the warmth and enthusiasm with which visitors to Sanjan have been greeted since time immemorial.

Sanjan is steeped in history.

Did you know that according to tradition, the holy Iranshah fire was created at Sanjan. The ‘alat’ for the consecration was brought on foot by Zoroastrian clergy from four Atash Behrams of Iran?

Did you know that Paak Shreeji Iranshah was consecrated on collection of 16 different fires, including one from lightning brought down by the strength of mantras and rituals performed by Dasturji Naryosang Dhaval?

Did you know that Iranshah was resident at Sanjan for 669 years and thereafter to protect it from external threats during turbulent times was shifted to the Bahrot Caves for 12 years and thereafter t0 Vansda Forest at Ajmalgadh for 14 years. Holy Iranshah was then taken to Navsari (313 years), Surat (3 years), Navsari again (5 years), thereon to Valsad (1 year) and finally enthroned at Udvada 274 years earlier on October 28, 1742, where it presently reigns in all its majesty & glory.

Did you know that one of the oldest ‘dakhmas’, was professionally excavated at Sanjan in 2002 by the World Zarthushti Cultural Foundation with the support of the Archeological Survey of India? Whilst the structure can be dated to the 11th century, the bones found have been dated by Oxford University to the period 1410 – 1450 AC.

The Sanjan Memorial Column standing next door to the sanatorium is a community symbol that generates awe in our hearts and reminds us of the farsightedness of our revered ancestors, the fruits of which we as a community enjoy till date.

Yes, Sanjan is full of surprises.

We too have a surprise of our own. We combine history with the beauty of nature and blend it with comfortable living & sumptuous meals. Rs.540/= per person per day for full board & lodge, in this day & age is the pleasant surprise with which we greet our guests.

Come, visit Sanjan ………….. have a great holiday.

– The WZO Trust Funds.

‘Sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission,’ Zubin Karkaria, CEO of the Kuoni Group and the first Asian to head a listed Swiss company, tells Niraj Bhatt.

In the past decade, Zubin Karkaria has built a global business of visa processing for embassies spanning 123 countries and can write a book on ease of doing business across the world.

In 2015, he opened visa centres in Suriname and Uzbekistan, got the governments of Brazil and Latvia as clients and formed a partnership to develop the outbound travel business in China. He says both Russia and China are difficult markets to work in, but have high growth potential.

Last November, Karkaria was elevated to the position of chief executive officer of the Kuoni Group, and became the first Asian to head a listed Swiss company.

Karkaria is visiting his hometown Mumbai and we meet at the Cricket Club of India for lunch. He divides his time between the Kuoni headquarters in Zurich and Dubai, where VFS Global and his family are based.

At the Polly Umrigar’s Sportsman’s Bar, which is empty on this Friday afternoon, we order fresh lime soda and a tandoori paneer.

Kuoni’s travel business hasn’t been doing well financially for a few years, and the group has been on a cost-cutting drive — it sold some businesses and even its head office building in Zurich. Intense competition from online players ate into its tour operating business, which it sold last year.

Kuoni decided to focus on three B2B areas: Group travel and destination management, B2B hotel booking and visa processing.

When Karkaria took over as CEO, he realised the company needed two things — capital and industry experience. “To double our top line to 6 billion Swiss francs, we needed investments in technology, people and growth markets,” he says. That’s why Sweden’s private equity player, EQT, was roped in as the new owner.

“EQT agrees with my strategy and wants me to deliver it,” he adds. The private equity fund, which has ties with Sweden’s largest business house — the Wallenberg family — gave Kuoni shareholders a 30 per cent premium to the market price, and the shares will be delisted.

“Now my task is much easier,” Karkaria says. He only has to coordinate with EQT and the Hugentobler Foundation, which was set up by Kuoni’s founders.

While VFS Global is already functioning as a separate entity, Karkaria will cut costs and make the other two businesses independent too. This way, each business can have its own growth plan, will be funded separately and get advice from domain experts that EQT will bring.

“My role as CEO of the Kuoni Group is for about 18 months. Once these three businesses are independent, I will go back to VFS Global and build it to the next level.”

VFS Global and the hotel booking business could be listed separately in future, while the loss-making group travel business would be restructured but other strategic options would be evaluated.

EQT has a policy of key employees having skin in the game by way of equity, which works for Karkaria and his team. He says he shared his plan with his colleagues and they supported him.

Over grilled chicken, Karkaria tells me he doesn’t eat meat on Tuesdays, wherever he is in the world. “For the last 20 years, I have been a regular visitor to the Siddhi Vinayak temple.”

Karkaria is also a Zoroastrian priest, and used to earn pocket money in his free time by reciting prayers at a local Parsi fire temple while in school and college.

Karkaria started working part-time in a travel agency his classmate owned, when he was studying management. He then joined the travel agency SOTC, which was taken over by Kuoni in 1996, where he worked across its businesses such as trade fair tours, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events), inbound and outbound tours, and rose within the organisation to deputy CEO.

In 2001, he says, the biggest stress was getting visas for outbound tours. On the other side, the embassies were getting negative press, with photographs of people queuing up at night or standing in the rain.

He floated the idea of taking care of the documentation at the US embassy, and it agreed to a pilot. Washington sent State Department staff to verify the security checks and the process and extended the pilot to a year.

New Delhi and Chennai too were added, and VFS was born.

“My objective was to take VFS to other missions,” he says.

He got on the road and started making presentations to other embassies in India. Two years after the US pilot, small contracts started coming in and by 2005, Kuoni India was processing visas for 11 client governments in India including the UK, Canada and Australia, and Karkaria became CEO and managing director of the company.

In 2007, the UK government outsourced visa processing across 33 countries to Karkaria’s operations, and that’s how the global foray began.

I ask how difficult it was to convince Switzerland about getting into this business. “When I was handling the India part, it was under Kuoni India, and when we got the US contract, they started believing in us,” he says.

As CEO, he didn’t have to tell headquarters that he was bidding for the UK contract. He had a good relationship with the board and Kuoni India was doing well under his watch, he says.

After bagging the contract, he did have to go to the board for approval, and says, “Sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.”

After that the business took off, and he headed the visa business globally. VFS Global also planned an initial public offering in London in 2011, but it had to be pulled off at the last minute.

People saw the profits VFS was making in the IPO documents and Karkaria says that’s when competition started coming in the business.

Karkaria visited about 100 countries and shares his travel experiences over coffee. He went to Libya last year to close the visa centre. In Erbil (approximately 350 kilometres north of Baghdad), he was walking on the road and was surprised to bump into a fellow Zoroastrian.

On July 14, 2016, he had dinner with the owner of Noori’s, an Indian restaurant in Nice, France, who he knows from his tour operator days. The Kuoni chairman, who was with him, and Karkaria saw the Bastille Day celebrations and fireworks and walked back to the Hyatt where they were staying.

Within a few minutes of entering their rooms, a truck driver ran over the crowd on Nice’s beachfront Promenade des Anglais and was shot by the police just outside the Hyatt. “It was the saddest sight of my life,” he says. “I tell my children how fortunate they are to be in the better part of the world.”

The basic Zoroastrian precept of good thoughts, good words and good deeds remain his moral compass.

http://www.rediff.com/business/special/meet-the-first-indian-to-head-a-swiss-company/20161012.htm

Udvada-A visit to the Holy place of Parsi’s

Udvada – I got to know about this place from a well known Photographer from my City added on my Facebook. He frequently visited this place and kept on posting very interesting pictures of his visits to his account. I was curious to find out more about the place and got to know that it was a Holy Place of Parsi’s or Zoroastrians and renowned all over the world for the Zoroastrian Atash Behram.

Zoroastrianism, the ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran that survives there in isolated areas and, more prosperously, in India, where the descendants of Zoroastrian Iranian (Persian) immigrants are known as Parsis, or Parsees.

I was excited to go and check the place out. So I planned my trip with a friend on a Saturday who joined me from Surat.

How to reach :

Udvada is located at a distance of 110 kms approx from Surat. If you are planning by Train, you need to get down at Vapi Station. Udvada does have a Railway Station but being a small stations they don’t stop there. From Vapi once can hire a Taxi or take the sharing rickshaws. Since not many people travel t o Udvada, you may not find a rickshaw taking you to Udvada village. We took first auto from Vapi station till Udvada Station and then took another one to the Udvada village. They might charge you 10/- or 15/- rs per person.

I did a little research and checked out the places to eat there. So we asked the rickshawala to drop us at the Ashishwang Hotel as we both were very hungry. The food was great and a typical Persian restaurant cum Hotel. I ordered a fish along with some Chapatis and a Potato sabji. There was also a Veg. Omlette which was delicious. Our another favourite was the local cold drink which came in wonderful colors.Try these instead of the other famous cold drinks.

Hotel Ashishwang

If you Plan to stay here, this place is a good option. The owner of the Hotel is quite welcoming and when we asked him if we can click more pictures of the place he told us “do anything you want here”

More pictures from the Hotel :

 

Beach

After our heavy brunch, we started our walk around this tiny village to explore. We reached the beach first, but did not see much people around. Unlike other beaches there was not much activity happening here. If you are in Udvada for a day, coming here sometime close to sunset can be peaceful.

It was a hot day even in the 3rd week to October, so decided to move ahead.

 

Zoroastrain Information Centre

We reached the Musuem next, also known as the Zoroastrain Information Centre. You can find out everything about the Parsi Culture here. This is Open from Wednesday to Monday from 9 am to 5 pm (Tuesday Closed).

 

Zoroastrain Information Centre

Zoroastrian Atash Behram

Zoroastrian Atash Behram, a holy place of worship for Parsi’s is a temple in Udvada, also known as the “King of Iran”. This temple was built in 1742 by Dinshaw Dorabjee Mistry from Mumbai.

Non- Parsi’s are not allowed to enter inside the temple. One can click pictures from outside and talk to the local people to know more about it. There are shops outside the temple selling Sandalwood.

 

Photo – walking

Most of the streets were empty and the houses vacant. There are not much people living in the village and most of the Parsis have now moved out of this place. On checking with the locals, they told us many have moved to Mumbai or elsewhere. They only come to visit the Holy temple and go back. Sundays are when mostly you get to see more people or otherwise you probably will be walking alone here most of the time.

I loved the old houses, most of them like the Persian architecture, but could not spot many Parsi’s to interact with. There were few who came to visit the temple but soon left in their vehicles after the visit.

There is one Irani Bakery to satisfy your sweet tooth. You may also find the rickshaw wallas selling Mango ice-cream in their rickshaws, make sure you try them.

While walking we saw a nameplate called  Della – Majestic and started clicking pictures. Soon the security guard came out with two other people and brought to our notice that we did not take prior permission before clicking. But the moment the other two guys left, he invited us inside and told us they were the owners, hence gave us that reaction. The place was stuffed with old antiques and decorative things that were used during the festival held in December 2015. It was previously a Hotel known as Majestic Hotel, completely ruined now.

Unlike cities, where we cannot walk on the streets without facing unnecessary honking or noise, here there was no disturbance. We walked hours exploring each and every house probably twice or even more. End of day we almost got familiar to this tiny village.

Some bungalows were very old, and so ruined, that bushes and trees grew all over the house.

 

If you are planning to visit Udvada and wanted to know anything more about the place, I would be happy to help. I would suggest to travel on a Sunday so you come back meeting more Parsi’s unlike me.

Polomi Mandal

Udvada-A visit to the Holy place of Parsi’s

 

Celebrate the humble chikoo by sipping on its wine, enjoying a safari in fruit orchards and dancing with Warlis at a two-day fest in Dahanu

The origin of the famous Dahanu-Gholvad chikoos can be traced back to 1890 AD, when the illustrious Parsi entrepreneur Sir Dinshaw Petit brought home a sapling of sapota from an excursion to South American rainforests. Due to the lack of space in his home garden, he entrusted it to his friend Ardeshir Irani, who lived in Gholvad, Dahanu, three hours (roughly 150km) from Mumbai. The sapling adapted to the climate of the coastal village and its plantation grew until a storm uprooted the cultivation. Then a local farmer Merwan Khodadad, grafted the fruit onto the Rhyne tree. With stronger taproots, the tree began to bear luscious, muddy brown chikoos round the year, leading to the economic development of the region.

A local performer plays Tarpa

Over the years, chikoos from the region have made their way to the APMC market in Vashi, parts of India and regions in the Middle East. In the last two decades, they have also lent themselves to several products including chips, pickles, mukhwaas (mouth freshener), chocolates, cereal flakes and most recently, a wine. If you’re keen to witness how the villagers celebrate the modest fruit, head to the fifth edition of Chikoo Festival, taking place over the weekend of January 21 and 22.

A guest plucks chikoo using the traditional bedni instrument

“The idea is to boost the region’s tourism and provide rural entrepreneurship development,” says Prabhakar Save, who spearheads the festival committee and was responsible for the fest’s inception in 2013, with support from MTDC, State Agriculture Department and local organisations. To be held in a camping ground in the neighbouring village of Bordi, this edition features 156 stalls offering chikoo and other agro-based products along with Parsi, Koli and Gujarati fare, as well as Warli handicrafts, thanks to a large population of the Warli tribe residing in the area. “The festival provides a platform for local communities and home-run ventures, largely by the women of the village. The festival is eco-friendly; there won’t be a single stall of chemical fertiliser,” adds Save.

You can also soak in the rustic vibe with a slate of activities, designed for kids and adults. These include workshops on Warli painting, pottery, kite-making and bamboo-weaving conducted by local experts, along with Warli folk dance performances where the tribe dances to the beats of Tarpa, a traditional trumpet-like instrument. You can also sign up for a four-kilometre Chikoo Run (on Sunday) or opt for Chikoo Safari, where you get to take a stroll in chikoo orchards, learn how the fruit is cultivated and even pluck it using the traditional Bedni, a long stick with a metal harness.

FROM: January 21 to 22, 8 am to 8 pm
AT: SR Save Camping Ground, Bordi.
Log On To: Chikoofestival.com

Zubin Karkaria
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be judged worthy of receiving this recognition. I have always believed in the enormous potential France has as a destination, and over the years, it has been my privilege to work with Atout France, France’s Tourism Development Agency, and many other stakeholders from the travel fraternity in promoting and facilitating travel to this beautiful country. I am grateful to the Government of France and Atout France for the trust they have placed in the Kuoni Group and in VFS Global, and of course, to all our employees for their engagement and passion to deliver first-class services every day. This recognition is truly inspirational for me and our team to aim higher in our commitment to excellence in developing travel and tourism to France.”

The annual Ambassador’s Travel Awards soirée, an initiative by Atout France – France Tourism Development Agency – under the patronage of the Ambassador of France to India was held at the Chambers Terrace of the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers in Mumbai earlier this month. The awards aimed at strengthening France’s ties further with the Indian travel fraternity and encourage their endeavours in showcasing France as a premier tourism destination. Launched in the form of a contest in October 2016, the Ambassador’s Travel Awards invited travel agencies to submit their published travel itineraries showcasing France as either a stand-alone destination or included a minimum 4-night stay in the country. Close to 100 itineraries were received, out of which 15 were shortlisted and judged by a panel of jury members, including H.E. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India. A selection of 6 winners was then made with awards divided into the following categories:H.E Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India with Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global & Kuoni Group Launched in the form of a contest in October 2016, the Ambassador’s Travel Awards invited travel agencies to submit their published travel itineraries showcasing France as either a stand-alone destination or included a minimum 4-night stay in the country. Close to 100 itineraries were received, out of which 15 were shortlisted and judged by a panel of jury members, including H.E. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India. A selection of 6 winners was then made with awards divided into the following categories: L-R: Sheetal Munshaw, Biswajit Chakraborty, H.E. Alexandre Ziegler and Suzanne Pereira, Sr. Vice President, Trade Relationships & Communications, Thomas Cook India Limited
	Sheetal Munshaw, Director, Atout France, Biswajit Chakraborty, GM, Sofitel Mumbai, Parul Mehta, Director, Global Destination and H.E Alexandre Ziegler
	L-R: Sheetal Munshaw, Biswajit Chakraborty and H.E. Alexandre Ziegler awarding Usha Nadar and family, the receipient of the 150,000th French Schenghen Visa
	L-R: Sheetal Munshaw, Biswajit Chakraborty, H.E. Alexandre Ziegler and Suzanne Pereira, Sr. Vice President, Trade Relationships & Communications, Thomas Cook India Limited
1. Best Promotion of France through Travel Itineraries. Platinum Award: Best Showcase of France as an Experiential Travel Destination WINNER – DESTINATION GLOBE. Diamond Award: Best Showcase of France as a Family-friendly Destination WINNER – SOL TRIPS Gold Award: Best Showcase of France as an Incentive Destination WINNER – BLUE MOON TRAVELS PVT LTD 2: Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuances. DIAMOND AWARD – THOMAS COOK INDIA LTD for registering the highest number of visa deliverances. GOLD AWARD – COX AND KINGS LTD for registering the best growth in French visa issuances. This year’s edition also had a special award for the recipient of the 1,50,000th French Schengen visa, who won a stay in France as a family. The recipient was Usha Nadar and her family. On this occasion, H.E. Alexandre Ziegler also conferred the French distinction, Chevalier Dans l’Ordre du Merite (Knight of the National Order of Merit), on Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global and Kuoni Group as well as a member of Atout France’s Advisory Board Council. The award comes in recognition of Karkaria’s stellar role in conceiving the visa facilitation system and promoting France as a premier travel destination, thus contributing to strengthening Indo-French ties and facilitating tourism influx. Commenting on the initiative, Sheetal Munshaw, Director, Atout France India, said, “This dynamic initiative endorsed by our Ambassador has given an impetus to our efforts of showcasing France as a leading travel destination. We believe these awards will further reinforce France’s positioning as a preferred destination across segments and will motivate our travel industry partners to create many more innovative handcrafted French travel experiences for their clientele.”

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/Round-Up/french-ambassadors-travel-awards-32254

http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4079750.html