The Parsee Voice issue - cautioning on sinister developments in Udvada

From: TZML Admins
Date: Dec 12, 2007 3:29 PM
Subject: The Parsee Voice issue - cautioning on sinister developments in Udvada
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: The Parsee Voice

12 December 2007

Dear Zarathushti humdins,

cc: Vada Dasturjis,
Ervad Sahebs,
The Parsee Voice,
Zoroastrian Studies,
Parsi Pukar,
Dini-Awaz,
Prominent Zoroastrians,
TZML
TMYZ officials

we have received a latest copy of the Parsee Voice, which is a journal
that protects the interests of the community.

The latest issue deals with Udvada and the efforts by some
Zarathushtis to convert Udvada into a "tourist town", and bring in
non-Zoroastrian tourists in this peaceful village-town. This is
clearly not how Udvada, which houses the greatest of our Holy Atashes
- the Iranshah - should be categorised.

Udvada is, firstly and lastly, a religious place, not a tourist destination.

Zoroastrians primarily go to Udvada for worshipping Iranshah, and it
is important that the atmosphere around Iranshah in Udvada must be
kept sanctified and pure. While Zoroastrians themselves commit big
errors in the rules of bodily and spiritual purity before going to
Iranshah (like not taking a shower/bath or even performing the
necessary kusti), one can just imagine what would happen when
non-Zoroastrians would descend in droves at Udvada gaam.

There is a need for increasing the Zarathushti presence in Udvada,
there is a need for young and middle-aged Parsi families to settle in
Udvada and bring some life to the place, there is a need for small
scale "cottage industries" to be promoted in Udvada to give both
Zarathushtis and non-Zarathushtis a livelihood, but apart from that
any large scale activities will ruin the place.

The Foundation for Development of Udvada (FDU) should bear all this in
mind before it encourages any activity which could be detrimental to
the sanctified atmosphere of Udvada.

The Parsee Voice, with its knowledgeable team and well-researched
outlook, have come out with an issue which makes us sit back and think
whether we as a community are headed in the right direction.

There are some sinister motives behind organising and celebrating the
recent 265th Anniversary of Iranshah's coming to Udvada. This event
was organised with much fanfare, but one does wonder, as the Parsee
Voice does, is who would celebrate the an odd anniversary as 265th.
Normally one celebrates a 250th or a 275th or 300th Anniversary, but
265th? And another aspect which rings an alarm is the FDU was not
mentioned during the celebrations, why such secrecy and silence.

Hence dear Zarathushtis, please be alert and vigilant.

We enclose the Parsee Voice, Vol IV (11 and 12) and Vol V (1 & 2) as a
PDF attachment for you to read and pass along to other good
Zarathushti families.

The address for correspondence for The Parsee Voice is
theparseevoice@yahoo.com.

Our sincere thanks to the team at Parsee Voice and we hope they
continue their good work in 2008 and beyond.

With best wishes
TZML Admins

(encl The Parsee Voice issue)