The Persian music album “The Gift”, is produced by Zarthushti brothers Bahram and Mehrdad Banki (from San Diego, CA) for Persian artist Tara.  This album was released by label Century Records-USA in September 2008, and consists of nine songs.

To get more information about the album, its producers and other Zarthushti’s involved in the music business, WZNN arranged an interview with Mr. Bahram Banki. WZNN thanks Bahram Banki for his patience and detailed answers to our questions.

WZNN: Could you give more details about “The Gift”, your involvement with it, and in general how you got involved with the Persian music industry?

Bahram Banki: “Album “The Gift” consists of 9 upbeat songs, in which I have composed 7 of them (full lyrics and partial music).  While growing up, I always had a huge passion for Persian music and its involvement.  In 1986 my brother Mehrdad introduced me to Siavash Shams, a singer I idolized, and eventually leading to good family friendship times.  Being around him and getting exposure to the Persian music business only inspired me to take my lyric writing hobby to a higher level, as before it was just for passing time.  Finally in 2004, I decided to write my first full song (”Xmas in Las Vegas”) on a professional level.  Tara, being another good family friend, and a singer with already 2-released albums (”Bahaar” and “Leili”), liked my work and therefore, we decided to make this song an experimental project together.  After a successful production of this song, I was also motivated to write a song about Iran’s national soccer team, as the excitement of World Cup 2006 was on its way.  The song “Maa Goal Zadim” was also made with a music video (available on www.TaraMusicSpace.com) and went down as my 2nd song written on a professional level.  One event leading to another, mainly inspired by my emotions and feelings, 5 new songs followed.

My Producer title involves me being the composer of almost the entire album, investor and album-partner, and mainly getting the album from point A to Z.  But none of this would have been possible without the help of my oldest brother Mehrdad Banki (album co-Producer and manager), pushing it to happen from point A to Z.  In fact, Mehrdad’s dealing and negotiations made the release of this album possible.”

WZNN: Who were other Zarthushti’s involved with this album?

Bahram Banki: “Other Zartoshti’s directly involved with this album production were my cousin Babak Parsi (Tara’s website developer); Kamran Yasnafar, Rashid Parsi, and Rostam Javidan for their musical support during the making of the first 2 songs; my cousin Farzad Khorshidian (ITN tv host), Ramin Mehrabani (aka DJ Romeo; also Kamyar’s management team, as well as producer for tv show “PMTV Exposed” on Apaddana International) and Behnam Farzaneh (Live Channel tv host) for providing media support and advising.  Honestly, almost the entire Zartoshti community was involved throughout this album production with hanging in there with me and providing motivation/support!”

WZNN: Would you do this again?

Bahram Banki: “Would I do this again?  Right now, I don’t know.  The 4 years had its own ups and downs, and it takes a lot of energy, time, commitment, and financial risk. Currently I have a couple single tracks ready and in the works, for a surprise Zartoshti group, as well as for a follow-up song for Tara, and one for a new artist friend of mine.  It all depends.  Most importantly, if there’s no financial return for all the investment and energy put into it, it is not worth it.”

WZNN: Do you recommend other Zarthushti youth to enter the Persian music and entertainment market?

Bahram Banki: “ I guess it depends on how bad they want it, and how much they’re willing to sacrifice for it.  The pennies and dimes start to add up.  And competition is too high.  Plus, these days it’s all about connections, who you know, and basically “party-baazi”.  Unless you have an exceptional talent or money to throw away, I suggest you finding another passion.  But if you have already entered this market or planning to do so regardless, and it will be just a side hobby alongside your normal job, best wishes for you and make us proud!”

WZNN: Any other comments?

Bahram Banki: “Last but not least, I would like to Thank everyone who knows me and/or reading this, for your support by owning an official copy of “The Gift” album.  Your contribution does not go into our pockets, but your kindness sits in our hearts!

And a special Thanks to WZNN team for all the hard work they put into this great website for the rest of us to enjoy and stay connected with our community.”

Mehrzad Dehmiri - Toronto:  On January 4, 2009 Maidyarem Gahanbar was held at the Mehraban Guiv Darbe Mehr in Ontario, Canada.
There were four Mobeds performing the Gahanbar prayers, Mobed Kerman Katrak along with three teenager Mobeds. Behram Antia, Rayomand Antia and Rushad Bharda were the youths who performed Gahanbar Avesta recital. The two brothers, Behram and Rayomand Antia became Mobeds two years ago in Bombay and Rushad had his ceremony last year at Udvada, India.

Gahanbar Avesta recital was followed by small talks which were also organized by youths. Mahshad Khosraviani, Nima Azarkeyvan and Kia Pourkiani spoke about Zartosht teaching in both Farsi and English.

The Gahanbar was organized by Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, and was attended by over 120 people. Traditional Gahanbar food was served.

The Zoroastrian Society of Ontario is planning a symposium to explore different perspectives of the Zoroastrian faith. The event is co-sponsored by Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), Zoroastrian Society of Ontario (ZSO) and World Zoroastrian Organization (WZO).

Jehan Bagli one of the organizers told WZNN’s correspondent that  the conference will discuss cultural and historical perspective of the Zoroastrian faith.

The conference was first planned to be held in the city of Thornhill in Canada, but the location has changed to “Mehraban Guiv Dare Mehr” at  3590 Bayview Ave in the city of  North York, Ontario. The conference is scheduled for Sunday March 29,2009  from 9am-6pm.

In this conference Dr. Oktor Skjaervo (professor of Iranian Studies at Harvard University) will have a speech on  “Zoroastrian Literature as a Part of the Cultural Heritage of Modern Zoroastrians”.  Dr. Jennifer Rose, Professor of Zoroastrian Studies at Claremont Graduate University, will also give a talk about “Keepers of the Flame: The Early Zoroastrians of Central Asia”.

Another speaker is Dr. Maria Subtelny who is Professor of Persian and Islamic Studies at University of Toronto.  She will talk about “The Water of Omniscience and the Milk of Knowledge: Zoroastrian Elements in the Apocalypse of Muhammad”. Dr. Jamsheed Choksy from Central Eurasian Studies-Indiana University will also present his paper on “How a Minority Adapts: Zoroastrians in Ceylon/Sri Lanka  from Antiquity to the Present.”
Registration can be done by contacting Jehan Bagli (647-344-3531), Pervaze Rabadi (905-846-6177) or Nozer Kotwal (905-820-0461). Registration fee is $8.00 for Adults and $5.00 ofr youth under 25.

Roshan Rivetna – Chicago: Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAC) hosted the third SSZ (Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism) Conference at the Arbab Rustom Guiv Dare Mehr, in Chicago, November 21-24.

The conference was sponsored by Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism (co-chairs Rohinton Rivetna and Pallan Ichaporia) with generous support from the World Zoroastrian Organization (WZO) and WZO-US president Keki Bhote. The mission of SSZ is to promote interaction among academicians, theologians (priests), educationists and practitioners of Zoroastrianism, through conferences and publications.  A primary goal is also to revive the tradition of scholarship within our own community and to support Zoroastrian studies and research in academia.

The 4-day program opened with a dinner reception for speakers and out-of-town guests at the Rivetna’s on Friday evening.  On Saturday, members of Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAC) presented an all-day seminar on  “Zoroastrianism 101: The Homeland, Life and Times of Zarathushtra.”  Presenters/session chairs included Naheed Vatcha, Spitaman Tata, Hoshi and Neville Vazifdar, Keikhosrow Mobed, Farida Sharyari, Persis Damkevala, Cyrus Rivetna, Shazad Mehta, Pesi Vazifdar, Burjis Sidhwa, Persis Damkevala, Tushad and Zenia Mehta, Rushna Patel, Rashna Balsara, Kristy Taylor. Jehangir Mobed presented the Life of Arbab Guiv and Jameshed Modi spoke on Diversity.

On Sunday, SSZ papers were delivered by Farrokh Vajifdar (London), Dinyar Patel (Harvard), Dr. Pallan Ichaporia (University of Mainz – in abstentia), Keki R. Bhote (Chicago), Shahin Bekhradnia (Oxford), Dastur Dr. Kersey H. Antia (High Priest, Chicago) and Prof. Jesse S. Palsetia (University of Guelph, Canada.  On Monday morning there was a Roundtable dialogue with the scholars and interested community members.

The programs opened with a Monajat by Mani Rao and ZAC choir and a Kavi Khabardar poem by Edul Udvadia; Benedictions by Hoshi and Neville Vazifdar and Bomi Damkevala; and Opening Remarks by ZAC president Hosi Mehta and Rohinton Rivetna.

Thanks to Aban Daboo, Roshan Rivetna, Dinaz Weber, Bachi Damkevala and Mani Rao and Mehroo Bhote for providing delicious food and dessert; and Registration volunteers Dinsoo Rivetna and Aban Vazifdar.

SSZ Conference Papers:

Session I was chaired by Afshan Barshan.  Farrokh Vajifdar presented “Salvation Technology:  Hellish Truths and Heavenly Lies.” Although thoroughly abstract, Zarathushtra’s teachings project a holistic view of an earthly good moral life, leaving speculations on Heaven and Hell to the formulations of Arda Wiraz and the High Pontiff Kirdir. Zarvanite aberrations and the cult of the Fravashis are examined in this light. Contrastive views are offered through the Antef Songs, Omar Khayyam’s irreligious quatrains, and the existentialist  thinking of John Milton. Good and bad priests appear and vanish, to be replaced by the forthright Gathic perspectives leading to some expectedly radical conclusions.  Bombay raised and London based, Farrokh Vajifdar comes from a high-priestly clan. His abiding interest in Indo-Iranian civilizations led to his specializing in Ancient Iranian languages and literature and the life-long attachment to Zoroastrian philosophy and spiritual teachings. He has written, lectured and broadcast (radio and television) on these subjects. As Fellow and former Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society, he referees and reviews books and articles on particular aspects of Zoroastrianism.

Session II was chaired by Minoo Press.  Dinyar Patel presented “Parsi Interactions with Iran.” This paper examines the activities of the Iran League (founded in 1922 by a group of Bombay Parsis committed to “renew and continue the connection between the old land of Iran and Hind …”) between the 1920s and 1940s in the context of Parsi relations with their Zoroastrian brethren in Iran and the imperial Iranian government.  Beginning in the 1850s, Parsis actively worked to ameliorate the conditions of the Iranian Zoroastrians, dwindling in numbers and reduced to abject poverty due to official government policies.  Iran League members built on decades of Parsi work by establishing schools and institutions as well as lobbying Tehran to consider Zoroastrian interests. Many Parsis believed that Iran in the 1930s was taking a profoundly Zoroastrian turn and began calling for the Parsi community to “return” to the Iranian motherland.  This romanticization of Iran, and the praise heaped on the supposedly “pro-Zoroastrian” Shah, was intimately linked to Parsi disillusionment with the course of Indian nationalist politics in the 1930s. Such sentiments also touched on an important issue of identity, one that remains salient amongst modern-day Parsis in both India/Pakistan and the diaspora.  Are some community members prepared to go as far as to call themselves more Iranian or Persian than they are Indian or Pakistani?  Dinyar Patel is a Ph.D. candidate in History at Harvard University.  His primary interest is modern Indian history, specifically the Indian independence movement and the development of the modern Parsi community.  He has conducted research on Parsi efforts to ameliorate the conditions of Iranian Zoroastrians in the 19th century, culminating in the work of Manakji Limji Hataria.  Over the past year, Mr. Patel has extensively studied Zoroastrian history, both ancient and modern, with Dr. Yuhan Vevaina of Harvard University.

Dr. Pallan Ichaporia’s paper on “Status of the Priesthood after the Fall of the Sasanian Empire” was not available since Dr. Ichaporia had to cancel his trip due to health reasons. Dr. Ichaporia, an elected Fellow of The Royal Asiatic Society of Gt. Britain and Ireland is an associate of Prof Helmut Humbach at Mainz University and co-authored several books. Works under progress include The Concordance of the Gathas.

Session III was chaired by Bomi Damkevala.  Keki R. Bhote presented a paper on “The Great Unknown Civilizations in Central Asia.”   Since the 1970’s there has been a veritable explosion of archeological excavations in Central Asia and Iran. Many of them date back to ancient aryan times – both pre-Zoroastrian and Zoroastrian. (1).  Arkaim, on the Kazakhstan and Russian border,  a spectacular Aryan city going back to 5000 BC.  (2)   Gonur, in south Turkmenistan, one of the five most ancient civilizations of the world dated around 7000 BCE.  (3) Tash Karim in north Uzbekistan, that existed since Zarasthushtra’s time and flourished as a Zoroastrian kingdom up to 1300 CE.  (4) Elam, in south east Iran, that was called the cradle of civilization and where writing was  first invented.  These excavations and others represent a proud heritage for us Zoroastrians. Mr. Bhote is a pioneer in furthering Zoroastrianism in North America, a founder (in 1965) and president of the Zoroastrian Association of America, the first in North America, a founder and trustee of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago and president of the World Zoroastrian Organization, US Region.

Shahin Bekhradnia presented a paper on  “Zoroastrians in Tajikistan.”  She spoke of her travels and her work in Tajikistan, (the poorest republic of the ex- Soviet Union) where she and fellow trustees of Vararoud ( a registered UK charity designed to aid Tajikistan)  have taken up sponsorship of children’s facilities in the national eye hospital. She has also helped set up a village sewing project where it is hoped that end products such as hats will be sold at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum gift shop.   Shahin Bekhradnia is a graduate from Oxford University.  Her thesis was on Identity and Change in the 20th Century among Iranian Zoroastrians. She has lectured regularly on various aspects of the religion, its ethics and the community and has also published many articles.  She has also played an active part in InterFaith relations in the UK.  She co-founded a school in Oxford, being an interpreter for the Immigration Appellate, a legal advisor to a travel company and currently a teacher of Ancient History, Latin, Russian and French.  She is also a magistrate on the North Oxfordshire bench and the Oxfordshire Youth Panel, and a trustee of SMART (Substance Misuse Arrest Referral Team).  She is on the Executive Committee of the World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) and is their Religious Affairs Spokesperson.  One of her main duties is to support Zoroastrian refugees from Iran.   In Iran she has set up a skills academy in Yazd teaching young Zoroastrians to earn their own independent livelihoods and helped  establish a Senior Citizens Day Centre.  She is also a long standing  concerned environmentalist and participated as a candidate in the General Election for the Green Party some years ago.

Session IV was chaired by Cyrus Rivetna.  Dastur Dr. Kersey Antia presented a paper on “Zoroastrian and pre-Zoroastrian Iranians in Georgia, Trans-Caucasia and Europe.”  Mr. Bhote is a pioneer in furthering Zoroastrianism in North America, a founder (in 1965) and president of the Zoroastrian Association of America, the first in North America, a founder and trustee of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago and president of the World Zoroastrian Organization, US Region.  Dastur Dr. Kersey H. Antia is the high priest of the Zarathushti community in Chicago since 1977, and has served as an honorary priest for over half a century.  A fully-ordained priest, from the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute in Mumbai, Dr. Antia studied religion and Avesta-Pahlavi under Dasturji Dabu, Mirza and other learned priests. A clinical and management psychologist in private solo practice in Illinois, he is also affiliated with several hospitals.

Jesse S. Palsetia presented a paper on “Partners in Empire: Parsi-British Relations in Colonial India Assessed”. The paper examines the growth and consolidation of Parsi-British relations in colonial India. It highlights how the Parsis and British came into economic and socio-political collaboration, and details the benefits and disadvantages Parsis encountered through their interactions with the British. The presentation is meant to provide context to perceptions of the Parsis’ situation under British imperialism.  Prof. Palsetia is Associate Professor of History at the University of Guelph, Canada. He is a historian of South Asia in the ancient, medieval and modern periods. He has written extensively on the Parsis, Bombay city, and Indian history. He is the author of The Parsis of India (1st publication, 2001, Brill Publishers of Leiden), and (reprint, 2008, Manohar Publishers of New Delhi). He is presently writing a history of the Parsi businessman and philanthropist, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy.

The closing session was a workshop, chaired by Keki R. Bhote, with panelists Farrokh Vazifdar and Shahin Bekhradnia.  The topics of discussion included:  Zoroastrianism in North America, Zoroastrians in Central Asia;  and Recognition for Dadabhai Naoroji.

The SSZ papers will also be available on the SSZ website. SSZ points of contact are  Pallan Ichaporia and Rohinton Rivetna.

Followng photos were taken by Roshan Rivetna from the SSZ conference in Chicago.

Dinyar Patel (Ph.D. candidate in History at Harvard University)  presented “Parsi Interactions with Iran.”

Shahin Bekhradnia presented a paper on  “Zoroastrians in Tajikistan.”

Dastur Dr. Kersey Antia presented a paper on “Zoroastrian and pre-Zoroastrian Iranians in Georgia, Trans-Caucasia and Europe.”

Farrokh Vajifdar from London, presented “Salvation Technology:  Hellish Truths and Heavenly Lies.”

Group of “Society of Scholars of Zoroastrianism” conference speakers and organizers

Dariush Jamasb-Virginia: Zoroastrians in Washington D.C area gathered in Virginia Dare Mehr to hold prophet Zarathustra’s passing-away anniversary.

The ceremony began with Avesta and Gatha recitations by Ms. Shahrzad Dehmoobad and Mr. Hormoz Jamshidi, and continued with a lecture by Mr. Khosro Frooudi on Zarathustra’s life. The ceremony ended with serving the attendees with some food and refreshments.

Following pictures are taken by Dariush Jamasb from this ceremony.

Zoroastrian Society of British Columbia (ZSBC) youth committee election was held as scheduled on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at Arbab Rostam Guiv Dare Mehr in city of Burnbay, Canada.

After the election, following youth members were elected as the youth committee officers:

- Bahman Sotoodian (President)
- Shahriar Khosraviani (Secretary)
- Shahin Shaeidaei (Treasurer)

Candidates of youth committee seeking positions on the board need to be ZSBC members and 19 to 31 years of age.

Kourosh Aryana-Norway: For the second time a group initiation ceremony was held in Moscow, Russia on 14th of December 2008.  New behdins from Iran and Russia (native Russians) attended the ceremony to join Zoroastrian Religion. The ceremony was performed by an Iranian Mobed.

Bozorg Bazgasht Anjuman and Zoroastrian Association of Norway in cooperation with Zoroastrians of Moscow organized a spiritual program for a group initiation ceremony and Zoroastrian marriage ceremonies (GAVAH-GIRAN) for two couples of new Russian Behdins in Moscow.

On 15th of December a religious dialogue was also organized by University of Moscow.  First Mobed gave a lecture about Gathas in the Department of Philosophy and Religion. His speech was translated from Persian to Russian by Professor Vladimir. B. Ivanov who is head of the department at University of Moscow.  On 16th of December another meeting was held at the department of Iranian Studies in University of Moscow.
Bozorg Bazgasht Anjuman would like to thank Mr. Farrokh in Moscow for offering his helps to the anjuman and the new behdins in moscow.

Zoroastrian Association of Victoria’s 30th Anniversary was celebrated by Zoroastrians on November 29, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia

Zoroastrian Association of Victoria’s 30th Anniversary programs included speeches, raffle,  live shows and dance performances.

In the beginning, Mr.Sarosh Khariwala, ZAV President, welcomed members on this momentous occasion.

Dr. Piloo Rustomjee, founding President of the ZAV addressed  the members and gave them an insight on how the Zoroastrian Association of Victoria  was formed with some old tales to tell.

Dance performance by ZAV Youth incorporated dance styles of Reggaeton, Salsa & Bachata.

The Cuban Dance Academy performing “ Quantam of Salsa & Salsa de roo eda.

Founding members of the ZAV 1978, along with the current ZAV committee 2008.

(WZNN wishes to thank Perviz Dubash and  Sarosh Khariwala for their helps in reporting Zoroastrian events from Melbourne, Australia).

Dr. Mitra Ara is a professor of religious studies and Persian culture and language at San Francisco State University. She received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D., all in Asian studies (with a focus on Asian religions and languages) from the University of California at Berkeley. In addition to publishing several articles, she has authored a book titled “Eschatology in the Indo-Iranian Traditions: The Genesis and Transformation of a Doctrine”, which was released at the American Academy of Religion meeting on Nov. 1st, 2008 in Chicago.

 In the following, Dr. Ara answers some of WZNN’s questions regarding her book and research. WZNN thanks Dr. Ara for her cooperation and detailed answers.

Why did you choose this particular topic, death and afterlife, to write your book?

I decided on the topic of Eschatology in the Indo-Iranian Traditions because today we witness the rise of religious fundamentalism and martyrdom, fueled by the eschatological promise of rewards in heaven and fear of torments in hell. The fact is that the traditions and doctrines whose ancient origins I examine in this book still remain alive and potent in our time.  As recent historical events demonstrate the eschatological beliefs of living faiths have myriad of believers in a literal heaven and hell, reward and punishment. In view of that, I felt obligated to research the roots of this phenomenon.

As a humanist my intention is basically to elucidate the earliest cultural and religious views on afterlife held by those who lived during the Indian Vedic and Iranian Avestan periods. There are genetic and historical links in the eschatological beliefs of the Indo-Iranians and those of Jews, Christians and Muslims that argue for a comprehensive, collective treatment. Of course, in the study of monotheistic religions, these topics have preoccupied other scholars, but no one has yet systematically studied these eschatological doctrines in the Indo-Iranian cultural and religious systems, as they are presented in this book.

To appreciate and respect the diversity of contemporary world religions, we must recognize their development from their inception to their present form; we may better understand the past through drawing parallels and tracing the continuity of institutions and beliefs of specific areas through the centuries. This book has demonstrated both the non static nature of religion, and the organic end result of its dynamism.
It has also described the characteristic points of Indo-Iranian religions, which are bound to contribute to a better understanding of the development of the eschatological beliefs in the presently prevailing religions.

Why research the roots of prevailing afterlife believes in the Iranian religion?

Much of the earlier scholarship devoted to eschatology and apocalypticism concerns the origins of eschatology within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  Of course we find a belief in afterlife on another plane of existence in most known cultures, from Asia, Europe, and Africa to the Americas. In all these places, the question of what is meant by a life in Heaven or in Hell has given rise to impassioned discussion from ancient times. The Egyptians, with over 5,000 years of history, had vibrant beliefs in a splendid life after death, and we can read of their perceptions of Heaven and Hell in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Likewise, the Mesopotamians held that the soul of the deceased would continue its existence in an underground world.

However, most of the eschatological and apocalyptic philosophers of monotheistic faiths hold fast to a literal reading of what they consider to be godly revelations about the end of the world and its accompanying rewards and punishments. These include a forthcoming end to linear time, involving God’s final judgment on evil, and a coming reward for the faithful, both in heaven and on earth. Iranians further developed this belief by promising a time to come when a supreme god, with the arrival of the final messiah, would defeat the forces of evil and chaos for the last time in a final battle. This belief among the earliest components of Zoroastrianism exercised a widespread and deep influence on other religions outside of the Iranian world.

You have devoted couple of chapters on Indo-Europeans and Old-Europe.  Why understanding Indo-European cultures and traditions are important to this study?

Understanding Indo-European language and culture is a prerequisite to the study of the Indo-Iranians, and in a parallel way, it is imperative to understand an analysis of the culture of the Old Europe, as the new homeland of the Indo-European immigrants. The Aryans are of Indo-European ancestry, and were the source of the Vedic and the Zoroastrian traditions in India and in Iran, respectively. Wherever their first homeland may have been, it is certain that they lived together as one people for a long period with shared customs and beliefs.

We must keep in mind that religion never has an absolute beginning. Every beginning is only a point in the history that owes its existence to events still farther in the past. With this in mind, we must expand our knowledge of a tradition as far back as the historical testimonies including archaeology allow us to do, without stopping at an arbitrary point in time. Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research, aided by linguistics, archaeology, and prehistoric and historic data, provides a view of both the sacred and secular life of Indo-European times. Fundamentally a linguistic construct, Indo-European has also been used for research in the fields of anthropology, history, comparative religion, and mythology.

Tracing the Indo-Iranian concepts of the nature and constitution of man, with special reference to the doctrine of the Soul and its transmigration, also alluded to by the Old Europeans and the Indo-Europeans, has helped me to demonstrate how profound the physical, ethical, spiritual, and to some degree, psychological ideals were in these thought-systems, which are preserved in the Vedic and Zoroastrian scriptures.

I have highlighted that cultural identities, which form people at any given time, are the culminating result of the interactions of past culture, religion, environment, and language. The historical process through which all the known religious belief systems of the world have evolved provides evidence for a gradual amalgamation and hybridization of ideologies as the result of cultural collisions.

What do you hope to achieve by writing this book?

As this book demonstrates earliest cultural commonalities, which continue to prevail in the surviving religious traditions and mythological events, I hope to generate enthusiasm for further in-depth research into the Indo-Iranian religion as a system, acknowledging its genetic historical connections with both earlier and subsequent traditions.

I further hope to make it more evident that religion is by nature non-static and that prevalent, worldwide belief in death and rebirth into another existence is the result of the dynamism of religion. The correspondence, and in some instances the identity, of the imagery of the afterlife events as recorded in the Vedas, the Avesta, the Book of the Dead, the Bible, the Qur’ān, the visions of Saint Vīrāf, and Dante perhaps express human concerns that arise from human fears and hopes. However different the expectations of the afterlife in the various traditions may be, they all convey the same uncertainties and expectations, and they evoke the same kinds of response.

Russian and Iranian behdins became Zoroastrian after their Sedreh Pooshi ceremony was held in Russia.

Sedreh Pooshi of these behdins was organized by Bozorg Bazgasht Anjoman and Russian Anjoman on Dec 14, 2008 in the city of Moscow in Russia.

Following this ceremony, Prof. Igor Yablokov Head of Philosophy of Religion Department at Lomonosov Moscow State University gave a lecture about Gathas on Dec 15, 2008. On the next day also, a group of interested students and teachers attended a meeting with the head of Iranian Philology Department at Moscow State University,  Prof. Vladimir Ivanovin.