FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NauRooz, falling each year on the Spring Equinox, March 21, marks the official New Year for Zoroastrians worldwide.
Zoroastrian organizations throughout North America to hold prayers and ceremonies to mark the auspicious occasion.
Pomona, New York, March 3, 2008 – Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) today announced that Zoroastrian organizations throughout the United States and Canada will celebrate the important festival of NauRooz (pronounced Noh-Rooz), on Friday, March 21, 2008, marking the official celebration of the Zoroastrian New Year at the turn of the spring equinox. ZAGNY will mark the occasion with a prayer ceremony on March 21, 2008 at 4-30 PM at ARBAB RUSTAM GUIV DARBE-MEHR, 106 Pomona Road, Suffern, NY 10901. Media and the public are invited to attend.
“The beauty, meaning and symbolism of NauRooz can best be experienced by sharing in our traditions and understanding the depth and breadth of NauRooz as more than just a religious holiday, but a celebration of a New Day, and a resolve to work for a brighter year ahead,” said ZAGNY President Homi Gandhi. “While today we are not the only people to celebrate NauRooz, our customs, culture and traditions are unique to our religion and our story as a growing religious body in North America.”
Zoroastrians have long served as effective bridge builders in interfaith dialogue as they see from their own faith, traditions of truth, righteousness, charity, beneficence and respect for creation reflected in traditions of the religions of both the occident and the orient.
“The North American Zoroastrian community is vibrant and growing, and striving for togetherness by celebrating and perpetuating auspicious holidays like NauRooz,” says FEZANA president, Dr. Rustom Kevala. “As we grow in the North American diaspora, it is our responsibility to proactively reach out and educate the public at large, and to showcase the many contributions being made each day by Zoroastrians throughout North America, and indeed throughout the world.”
Zoroastrianism, founded circa 1500 BCE, is credited to be the oldest monotheistic religion, influencing post-exilic Judaism, which adopted some Zoroastrian beliefs such as the ultimate victory of good over evil and the resurrection of souls. These percepts were then transmitted through Judaism to Christianity, and later to Islam. Zoroastrianism flourished as the imperial religion of three Persian empires, those of the Achaemenians, Parthians and Sasanians, and was the dominant religion from Turkey, and eastward to China during those times. North America’s Zoroastrian community includes those who arrived from the Indian subcontinent, known as Parsis, and those who came directly from Iran seeking religious freedom.
About ZAGNY
Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Pomona, New York, ZAGNY represents the interests and provides a spiritual base for Zoroastrians throughout the Greater New York area. ZAGNY provides its membership with spiritual and religious guidance, religious education, interfaith participation and leadership, as well as social, cultural and community programming. For more information please visit: www.zagny.org
About FEZANA
Founded in 1987, FEZANA serves as the coordinating body for 25 Zoroastrian associations and several smaller Zoroastrian groups throughout the United States and Canada. FEZANA promotes the study, understanding and practice of the Zoroastrian faith in North America. It represents the interests of its member associations, and carries out philanthropic and charitable activities worldwide. The FEZANA Journal, FEZANA’s publication of record, circulates to Zoroastrian households in more than 22 countries, as well as to scholars, academicians and religious organizations worldwide. For more information visit www.fezana.org.
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Contacts:
ZAGNY Media Relations:
Homi D. Gandhi, President
Mobile: 201.410.8963 or president@zagny.orgFEZANA Media Relations:
Jim Engineer
FEZANA Media Relations
Mobile: 630.728.1387 or jim.engineer@e-rainmaker.com