Event Announcement and Speaker Bios here
Live-Streamed Video Recordings of all sessions here
FIRES, ZAH Library and SSZ co-sponsor Symposium in Houston
Report by Roshan Rivetna
Prof. Almut Hintze and Kersi Bhikhaji Shroff were speakers at the symposium “Yesterday’s Gifts …. Tomorrow’s Assets” co-sponsored by FEZANA Information Research Education System (FIRES), Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) Library and Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism (SSZ) at the Zoroastrian Heritage and Cultural Center, Houston, on Friday October 11 – Sunday October 13, 2019.
The 3-day event, most ably organized by Aban Rustomji and the ZAH Library/FIRES committee, was held at the Purvez Rustomji Hall, which currently sports an exhibition of photographs of Atash Behrams and Agiaries around the world.
On Friday evening, after a welcome and introduction of the speakers and guests by Aban Rustomji and FEZANA President Homi Gandhi, Prof. Almut Hintze, Professor of Zoroastrianism at SOAS (University of London) spoke on “The Past in the Present: The Ancient Zoroastrian Ritual of the Yasna.” She captured the audience with her state-of-the art presentation of the millenia-old Yasna ritual in Virtual Reality, enabling the viewer to experience this ritual by full immersion. A delicious pot-luck dinner followed.
Saturday started with tea and batasas, followed by another enlightening talk by Almut Hintze. “A Zoroastrian Vision” focused on the fate of the soul after death, and examined the encounter of the soul with its daena, as described in the texts.
At 11:00 am the assembly gathered at the new Bhandara Atash Kadeh to witness the Boi ceremony performed by Mobed Manek Sidhwa. After a delicious lunch catered by Naushad Mehta, the afternoon session began with a brief presentation by Rohinton Rivetna, on SSZ – its vision, mission, accomplishments and future plans with a plea to all, scholars and lay persons alike, to get more involved with its projects.
Kersi Bhikaji Shroff, an Attorney at Law, who, since his retirement as Division Chief in the Law Library of Congress, has travelled extensively in Central Asia and the Causasus (in Azerbaijan), with expeditions led by Russian archeologists to trace and research the ancient roots of Zoroastrianism, gave a most interesting talk on “Central Asian Arts & Archeology: Selected Zoroastrian Themes and Sites” showing how archeological remains provide rich evidence of the practice of Zoroastrianism.
After tea, Khushrav Nariman moderated a panel discussion with young Mobeds Bahrom Firozgary, Zubin Kotwal and Noshir Khumbatta, addressing questions from the audience on their perspective on the future of our religion and culture.
A Gala Dinner with delicious curry-chaval dinner, also catered by Naushad Mehta, and entertainment that included songs by the ZAH Choir, a Mexican dance by Mahtab Dastoor and Natasha Dungor, and musical performances by Chloe and Tate Choudhry rounded off the Saturday proceedings.
On Sunday morning, interested persons gathered at the FIRES library for a round-table discussion with the Speakers.
Our grateful thanks to FIRES and ZAH Library for co-sponsoring this symposium, to the Houston community for their gracious hospitality to out-of-town guests; and especially to Aban Rustomji for her organization skills and commitment – she has truly raised the bar!
Mobed Kobad Zarolia and Mobed Tehemton Mirza, in collaboration with ZSO and OZCF, have volunteered to host an SSZ Conference in Toronto in October 2020.