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Toronto
Star
RELIGION
Saturday, September 21, 1996
Those who don't
know much about their religion call them "fire
worshippers," and by inference, hot-headed. But history
shows Zoroastrians to be a peace-loving and mild people.
There are
widespread misconceptions about Zoroastrians because it is an
ancient religion, says Ervad Yezdi Antia, a retired civil
engineer and volunteer priest at Darbe Mehar (house of mercy),
the Zoroastrian temple on Bayview Ave.
"We don't
worship fire but recognize it as a powerful natural element like
earth and water," he says. "It signifies purity and is
therefore venerated. All our religious rituals are solemnized in
the presence
of fire."
Despite years of
persecution that forced them to uproot from present-day Iran,
Zoroastrians did not take up arms.
"The basic
tenets of Zoroastrianism are that one should develop intellect
and wisdom to lead a life of righteousness based on Good
Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds," Antia says.
"This, in essence, is the three-fold path at the centre of
the faith."
The Zoroastrian
community of approximately 100,000 worldwide has a "rich
and powerful history," he goes on to say.
"Zoroastrians
are the followers of Zoroaster, a prophet of ancient Iran.
Zoroastrianism, believed to be the first monotheistic religion,
emerged about 1500 B.C. Zoroastrians believe in one God, whom we
call Ahura Mazda (wise one) and our scriptures are contained in
a set of five books called Avesta."
Avesta is also
the now-"dead" language of the scripture, adds Antia,
who has written but not yet published a paper on his community.
Zoroastrianism
flourished in ancient Persia (now Iran) until the Arab invasion
in 641 A.D. Then, some Zoroastrians were forced to convert to
Islam, while others fled to the mountains. Around 785 A.D. a
small group fled by boat to Gujerat on India's west coast, Antia
writes.
The King of
Gujerat received them warmly, allowing them to settle with
freedom to worship, provided they adhered to five conditions:
surrender of all arms, adoption of local dress, adoption of
local language, performance of wedding ceremonies after sunset
and an explanation of the religion to the ruler.
'Coming to Canada
has minimized differences'
The Zoroastrians
who settled in India are called Parsees (from the province of
Pars in Iran). They assimilated in India and spread out toward
Bombay for trade and commerce. With the arrival of British rule
in the early 19th century, Parsees were among the first to opt
for Western education and training. As a result of their
enthusiasm, they eventually dominated professions that required
high educational standards such as law and medicine, Antia adds.
The Zoroastrians
who stayed in Iran prefer to be called Zarathoshtis. When Raza
Shah Pahalvi came to the Iranian throne in
1925, the
Zarathoshtis were no longer persecuted and emerged as successful
bankers, administrators and industrialists, playing an important
role in the modernization of Iran.
Dr. Dhun Noria,
head of laboratories at Scarborough Grace Hospital and a
specialist in surgical pathology, is a Parsee from India and
clarifies that differences among Zoroastrians are minor and
purely cultural.
"Our
scriptures are the same, and we believe in one Prophet,"
explains Noria. But there are some major cultural variations.
"In our
marriage customs, we have incorporated Hindu traditions. We also
draw chalk markings on our front door (a sign of good omen). We
speak Gujerati fluently and have adapted the Gujerati style of
wearing a sari."
On yet another
cultural sphere is Jahangir Behboodi, a Zarathoshti from Iran.
"The
language for Zoroastrians from Iran is Persian," Behboodi
says. "Those who moved away from the base, which was in
Iran, lost some of the original philosophy and took on cultural
rituals" of their adopted countries.
"(All)
Zoroastrians follow a solar calendar and celebrate the first
minute, first hour of the first day of spring as our new year
called Nauroze, which is still celebrated on March 20 or 21
throughout Iran by non-Zoroastrians as well. (But Zarathoshtis)
also celebrate the first day of autumn in a festival called
Mehergan, which is something like North American
Thanksgiving."
Parsees from
Indo-Pakistan also have a unique day.
"Pateeti (a
day of repentence before the new year) is exclusive to
subcontinent Parsees," explains Nilufer Mama, who is from
Pakistan. My ancestors moved from Gujerat to what is now
Pakistan, so our way of life is influenced by Muslim language,
culture and traditions. Most Parsees from Pakistan speak fluent
Urdu as well as Gujerati, and in our dress and food, we show a
heavy Muslim influence.
"Coming to
Canada has minimized differences between Zoroastrians and
brought us all together in this wonderful country we call
home," she says.
Despite their
cultural affiliation with three separate homelands (Iran, India
and Pakistan), Zoroastrians have been able to assimilate into
Canadian society. Many of the approximately 5,000 in Ontario are
philanthropists and social workers.
Noria, Behboodi
and Mama have been in Canada for more than a decade, and are
members of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, which celebrates
25 years of inception this month with festivities that
culminated in a dinner and raffle last night.
Society founder
and first president Minoo Treasurywala, who came to Canada in
1965, recalls the early days.
"On March
21, 1966, 18 Zoroastrians and I shared coffee and cookies to
celebrate Nauroze. The same group started a Zoroastrian
Fraternity, which in 1971 became the first registered
Zoroastrian Association in Ontario. We were the first to start a
Zoroastrian Congress, which is now held every two years and
acknowledges achievements by Zoroastrians." Both Parsees
and
Zarathoshtis belong.
Copyright
© 1996 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved.
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