The Bhandara Atash Kadeh (fire temple) is a new addition on the site of the vast ZAH grounds on West Airport near the Beltway and is a result of decades of planning and was made possible by the generous donation of Feroze and Shernaz Bhandara. Posted on 04/19/2019 5:07:57 AM PDT by Cronos
HOUSTON: The Zoroastrian Association of Houston celebrated the Grand Opening of the first fire Temple to be built outside India, Pakistan and Iran and included the Navroze (the Iranian New Year heralding the first day of Spring) in 5 days of celebrations from March 20 to 24.
The Bhandara Atash Kadeh (fire temple) is a new addition on the site of the vast ZAH grounds on West Airport near the Beltway and is a result of decades of planning and was made possible by the generous donation of Feroze and Shernaz Bhandara.
Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor (High Priest of Iranshah in Udvada, India) traveled from India to lead the ceremonies, prayers and blessings throughout the planned events. Traditional ceremonies included the collection of sandalwood and ash for the fire, a procession lead by local Mobeds, Ervads and Naavars (priests) who carried and urn with fire and ashes from the small prayer room located in the community center to the Bhandara Atash Kadeh where the fires were mixed in new urns.
The inauguration and gala celebration on Saturday, March 23 began with the American National Anthem by Chloe Choudhury and blessings by Vada Dasturji and was followed by speeches, award ceremonies, dining and dancing for all. Accompanying the opening was an exhibit “Down Memory Lane” which presented vignettes of past Parsi domestic spaces in India and Pakistan in the library inside the main building.
Feroze Bhandara thanked the audience of over 600 for their support. He spoke about the inspiration to build an Atash Kadeh that would meet the spiritual needs of our second and third generations in North America.
He explained that he and his wife, Shernaz, felt privileged to have built this fire temple. They want the Bhandara Atash Kadeh to be a safe, inclusive and welcoming spiritual place of worship for all in our community in the hopes that Non-Zoroastrian family members can share our faith and spiritual beliefs thus carrying the Zoroastrian faith onward to the next generation. He concluded by turning over ownership of the Bhandara Atash Kadeh building to the ZAH.
Generous donors Feroze and Shernaz Bhandara with high priest from Udvada, India in front of Zoarashtrian Association of Houston (ZAH) Atash Kadeh temple.
Vada Dasturji spoke on the “Zarathushti Way of Life in Today’s World”, about the survival of the Zarathushti faith in the modern world. He asked whether “Zarathushtis want to survive and have the will to survive?”
He acknowledged the Zoroastrian core belief of “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds” which is evident throughout this community and gave a reminder to keep the fires burning. He conveyed how touched he was during the first boye ceremony, and that it is now up to the community to take care that this fire burns in perpetuity.
Bhandara introduced several key guests and dignitaries including Congressman Al Green (9th District) who presented a Certificate of Special Progression Recognition and Consul General of India, Dr. Anupam Ray. City of Houston Council Members Mike Laster (District J), Martha Castex-Tatum (District K), and Member-at-Large David Robinson to present a proclamation from the Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Sarosh Collector, described how the first thought of an Atash Kadeh came to mind from discussion with Roshan and Rohinton Rivetna but that the push to move forward with this idea truly came from Mrs. Cooper (Lahore) and Shernaz Bhandara. adding “atha jamyat, yatha afrinami” (as it is, so shall it be).
Other speakers included Fezana President, Homi Gandhi; NAMC President Ervad Kobad Zarolia and past President Sheroy Haveliwala. The Atash-Kadeh architect Cyrus Rivetna (of Chicago) thanked Aderbad Tamboli, Rohinton Deputy, Khushrav Nariman, and others for their support and contributions during construction.
The celebrants raised over $100,000 for ongoing operational costs to show their commitment to the ongoing care of the Bhandara Atash Kadeh.
MCs for the evening were Mitra Khumbatta and Darius Tamboli. The crowd gave standing ovations to The Children’s Choir, led by Sunday school teacher Vehishta Kaikobad, who performed a Spiritual Song to the tune of “It’s Now or Never” and by musical selections by Chloe and Tayte Choudhury. DJ Gary (Farrokh Firozgary) and the Z-band rocked the dance floor by singing everyone’s favorite tunes and brought the evening to a close.
The Zoroastrian Association of Houston was established in 1977 with just over 12 families. In 1998, the Zarathushti Heritage and Cultural Center was built within the 8 acres owned by the ZAH. The Bhandara Atash Kadeh is a standalone, designed by architect Cyrus Rivetna of Chicago is easily recognizable as a Zoroastrian place of worship is located across from the Center and is now ‘must see’ for Zoroastrians, their non-Zoroastrian spouses and children throughout North America. The 7,000 sf building includes a community Prayer Hall, ceremonial rooms and two living quarters to be used for those undertaking their Navroze or first training as priests.
The Persian fire dance to celebrate their new year consists of hopping near and away from the fire to symbolize this balance.
Even the Muslims know that this tradition is based in the Zoroastrian religion but tolerate it for much the same reason early Christians tolerated practices which were brought into Christian tradition by pagan converts such as the timing of Christmas, Christmas trees and burning yule logs.
I drive a (British Racing Green) Mazda Miata; this "constitutes" only Speed and Style!
Miata drivers are non-denominational!
Nothing says death cult like one of the major pagan sources for Mohammad’s ideologies.
My, aren’t we an intolerant society.
Another reminder that America remains a sanctuary for people whose faith is oppressed elsewhere. The situation here is similar to that of the Bahai.
Interesting. Thanks to all posters. Education, history, religion BUMP.
But then Timur e Lang committed genocide against them
Yes.
Zoroastrianism was a great moral monotheistic faith before the Muslim pigs from Arabia snuffed it out - virtually.
Yes it was and had a close historical relationship with Judaism.
Some traditions have the Magi (the 3 Kings) being Zoroastrian.
well, I think only the Zurvanism version was monotheistic.
The initial version is startly dualistic - there are two gods: Ahura Mazda, the god of Light and good and Aingra Mainya, the god of darkness and evil. These are broghters and completely equal just as day and night are equal
Zurvanism saw them both as emanations of Zurvan (probably derived from Vaishnavites).
And there weren't three. The earliest tradition - that of the Ethiopian orthodox Church dating the 2nd century is that there were 40.
only in Europe do they become white, black and east asian.
yeah I know.
Just trying to not start a long drawn out fight over whose viewpoint is better.
“They practice Sky Burial - leaving their dead out (in a walled enclosure on high ground) to be eaten by vultures.”
Cool. Can we do that to the DemocRats? It would be very GoT-ish.
“Can we do that to the DemocRats?”
Its OK with me, but you better ask Mom first.
Zorro
***Yes - the religion of the three wise men (Magis) who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.***
I’ve read that the Magi may have actually been Jews of the dispersion from the Court of Persia.(WORD KEYS WHICH UNLOCK CHRISTMAS by Duane Edward Spencer) An interesting take on the subject.
It looks to be pretty fireproof.
But they have nothing to fear.
Satan protects his own.
It’s only Christian or Catholic churches that are targeted.
The Iranians whom I have met say that they are not muslim but Zoroastrians and they HATE islam.
“They practice Sky Burial”
As an interesting aside, sky burial is being curtailed due to the Indian vulture crisis. There is a NSAID called Diclofenac which is extremely poisonous to vultures. They started using this in livestock in India, which put it in the food chain for vultures causing the vulture population to collapse. This is causing all kinds of problems and has forced the Zoroastrians to stop sky burials. With nothing to eat the bodies, they take too long to dissipate.
That said, Zoroastrians are not chopping heads or bombing anyone, so I am fine with them. Congratulations to them on their new temple.
The First Amendment in action.
So long as they aren’t looking to kill those who don’t agree with them, I’m cool.
“That said, Zoroastrians are not chopping heads or bombing anyone, so I am fine with them.”
Yeah. Welcome Zoroastrians!
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