Zoroastrianhelps keep the traditions of ancient religion alive - Albany Times Union

Dr. Farzana Irani: Member of the Zoroastrian community.

Background: Iranian was born and raised in India, where she graduated from medical school. She immigrated in 1978 to Albany, where she is an accoucheur and gynaecologist in Niskayuna. She and her husband, Khushru, unrecorded in Loudonville. They have got three sons: Khoozan, 25; Perzan, 23; and Farzad, 19.

What is the beginning of Zoroastrianism?

The ancient faith was founded about 3,500 old age ago in Yazd in what is today Iran. The oracle we follow was named Zartosh, or Zoroaster. His following are known as Zartoshi or Zoroastrian.

It is the world's oldest monotheistic religion. People were graven image worshippers at that time. Zarathustra told the people about Ahura Mazda, one God. We esteem natural things like sun and H2O and fire.

Boatloads of Zoroastrians migrated to Republic Of India in the 10th century. There, they were known as Irani, later as Farsi for the linguistic communication they spoke, then as Parsi.

The three of import mottoes are good thoughts, good words and good deeds.

How many Zoroastrians are in the human race today?

According to the Zoroastrian diary Fezana, there are about 125,000 with 11,000 in the U.S. and 6,000 in Canada.

How make children larn about their religion?

Usually, between ages 9 and 11, misses and male children are initiated in a ceremonial called "navjoth." They have on a "sedreh," a achromatic muslin undershirt, and on top of that, a "koshti," which is made of woolen and tied around the sedreh three modern times with knots as we state prayers. They are outward marks of being a Zartoshi.

Children have got to larn prayers. A "dastoor," or priest, learns them.

All three of our children had their navjoth in India.

Bash you have got a topographic point of worship in the area?

It is called a fire temple because we light a fire during services. The closest one is called Darbe Meher and it's in the Rockland County small town of Pomona.

There, we have got Gathas, our holy books, which are a aggregation of five books of prayers.

We cover our caput with a scarf or cap at the temple and also during supplications at home.

State us about the vacation you recently celebrated.

Nauroze is our new year, the first twenty-four hours of spring. We begin springtime cleansing a few hebdomads earlier and some people germinate seeds of lentils. A twenty-four hours before the vernal equinox, we put the tabular array with a nice or new tablecloth, "cloth of seven dishes," on which we put at least seven nutrients beginning with the Irani missive Second or "sinn." They include corn or lentil sprouts, pudding, apple, dry fruit of lotus, any berries, vinegar, Allium sativum and a bowl of H2O with an orange and some coins floating in it. Some people set out dry fruits and hyacinth. We also set tapers on the tabular array representing children. I set three for my boys.

We see seven a sacred figure since there are seven angelic trumpeters of life: rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, forbearance and beauty.

Traditionally, we see household and friends for 13 days. We first scatter invitees with rosewater and then demo them their human face in a mirror. They express joy and hope it will be a twelvemonth of laughter and happiness.

On the 13th day, we clear everything from the table.

-- Azra Haqqie