Eedu- or the humble yet potent Egg, is an intrinsic part of Parsi life. And it’s not restricted to breakfast. In fact, it’s not even restricted to food! Because a Parsi will not only add an egg to almost any dish he or she makes, a Parsi will also break an egg at every auspicious occasion - at the threshold of a house when welcoming a new guest into the home, and even on the head of the guest if they’re really special!!

Well. actually, I’m just kidding about the egg-on-the-head part, but you get the point - Apra Parsioma Eedu ghanu special chhey!

So while we may enjoy the good old English tradition of Scrambled or Fried Eggs with toast and a pot of tea (with a spot of milk!) at breakfast, we often get creative with “eggs on anything”.

Here’s the classic recipe for Papeta Par Eedu - Or Potatoes with Eggs on top! Courtesy Veera Mavalwala.

Ingredients (serves 2, but it’s so delicious one person alone might polish it off!):

• Half kilo Potatoes
• 2 Eggs
• Salt to taste;  red chilly powder; pepper
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• Coriander chopped
• 2 tbsp oil

The Method:

Cut the potatoes into thick chips and soak in water;  in a non-stick frying pan heat the oil and add ginger-garlic paste and fry for 2 minutes. 

Add potatoes and salt, red chilly powder and pepper.  Fry all ingredients for 4 minutes and add one cup water.  Cook till water dries and potatoes are cooked. Then flatten the potatoes in the pan.

Beat the white of the eggs till fluffy, add the yolks and then spread both on the potatoes. Garnish with chopped coriander and cover the dish with a lid and cook for 5 minutes till the egg is stiff. 

Cut into pieces and serve hot with bread or rotis and tomato sauce.

Note:  Same recipe can be made with potato chips and potato salli;  fried bhindi, tomatoes, and with cooked palak and methi.

Enjoy!

One of the most awesome and insightful portrayals of the Parsi Community that exists in the world today, is this beautifully written, photographic journey of the Zoroastrians of India, by Sooni Taraporewala.

In her inimitable, free flowing yet insightful style this legendary photographer/screenwriter captures the essence, the vibrancy, the richness of the Parsi community… and as Homi K Bhabha said “Taraporevala has mastered the art of capturing, with an unerring eye, what is both personal and communitarian in the Parsi world. As a Parsi, these remarkable photographs bring to life the vivid pageant of living amongst my people.”

This book is a must see/must have. It’s available at Amazon here.

When most people come to know I’m a Parsi, they immediately say - “ah! Parsi food! So when are you calling me over!?” Quite simply, Parsis are synonymous with ‘good food’ (among other things!) Well… I always reply to these, “Hey! You’re welcome anytime!” And that’s an offer, most people cannot refuse!

This of course leads us to agree that no good Parsi website can be complete without food! So here we go - the first in a series of much demanded Parsi food recipes, which we’ll post online.

Of course, to use a cliche, these are recipes “under standard test conditions”. Because no two self-respecting Parsis will make the same recipe taste the same as someone else would. Which of course leads to variations like “mara mamma nu akuri”(my mother’s akuri), “mari bairi nu akuri”(my wife’s akuri), “aevanneta nu akuri” (their akuri), “aie akuri thori che??!” (this is not akuri!) and so on… for any dish you choose to name!

But now, back to the point - How to make Akuri - one of the great Parsi breakfast dishes, made with eggs of course!It’s made regularly by my mother, sister, wife, Freni aunty… and also the Chef’s at the Taj Hotels (check out their room service menu)!

This recipe has been shared by Veera Mavalwala.

Ingredients (To Serve 1 person):

• 4 small onions chopped into small cubes
• 2 eggs
• Salt to taste;  red chilly powder
• 2 Chopped Tomatoes or raw mangoes during season
• Coriander chopped & green chillies chopped
• 2 tbsp oil

Method: 

• Fry the onions till brown and add tomatoes/raw mango, green chillies, salt & red chilly powder and cook for 5 mins. 
• Add the eggs, stirring well to blend with the ingredients. 
• Decorate with chopped coriander and serve hot with bread/toast or rotis.

Note:  The same recipe can be made by substituting eggs with mashed paneer.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, the 21st of August, 2007 - the 233rd day of the year of the Gregorian Calendar.

Mangalvar, Bahman Roj, Fravardin Mah - the 2nd day of year 1377 Yezd, for the Shenshais.

Mangalvar, Bahman Roj, Ardibehesht Mah - the 32nd day of year 1377 Yezd, for the Kadmis.

Mangalvar, Shehrevar Roj, Shehrevar Mah - the 154th day of year 1377 Yezd, for the Faslis.

The Delhi Parsi Anjuman, on behalf of all the Parsis of New Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida wishes everyone a Happy Parsi New Year!

We pray that people of the world find greater peace and prosperity, moving ahead with Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds!

Sunday, 19th August 2007: Today the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA) celebrated Pateti and the arrival of the Shenshai New Year (Yezd 1377), with most of the members of the small but vibrant Parsi community living in the NCR coming together at the Delhi Parsi Dharamsala.

The evening began with Mr. Dadi Mistry, Vice President of DPA, welcoming the Chief Guest, the Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri Tejendra Khanna (6th from right above, in black). Mr. Mistry then addressed the gathering with an account of the history of Parsis in Delhi, and their glorious contribution to the nation and society. 

Dr. Kamal Faruqui, Chairman, Delhi Minorities Commission also graced the function with his wife, albeit a little late, due to a delayed flight.

Mr. Adil Nargolwala read out New Year greetings from The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, and also a note of Best Wishes from Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President of The Indian National Congress.

The Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri Tejendra Khanna then released a special issue of Dipanjali, which is a glorious tribute to the Late Lt. General (Retd.) Adi Meherji Sethna, who besides contributing greatly to the nation as an Officer Par Excellence, also led the Delhi Parsi Anjuman as its President, with unparallel vision and passion!

The Chief Guest then addressed the audience and recounted his own happy interactions with the Late Lt. General (Retd.) Adi Sethna, and the Parsi Community as a whole. He recognised the contributions of the community to the country in all aspects of life, and wished the best for the community in times ahead.  Shri Tejendra Khanna was presented with a special Asho Farohar embedded on a Peepal Leaf as a memento of the occasion.

Then much to the eager delight of the young Parsis of the NCR, scholarships were awarded to over 25 boys and girls, who excelled in various fields fields of academics, arts and sports. The scholarships were handed out by the wife of the Lt. Governor, on behalf of the DPA.

The formal part of the evening was rounded off with the launch of the DPA website www.delhiparsis.com by the Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri Tejendra Khanna. The website, the first of its kind by a Parsi Anjuman in India, is designed to be interactive and provide a forum for sharing views, news, events and issues concerning the Parsis of the region, as well as the community as a whole. It encourages people to visit the site, discuss, and post their comments as well as contribute to the content of the website.

And of course, no Parsi function is complete without great food, music and dance! Mrs Dhun Bagli’s food was at its usual best - and included Hyderabad Mutton Palau, Dhanshak Daal, Sali Murghi, Veg. Palau, Matter Paneer besides typical Parsi Cachumbar and Ravo! The music was delightful. And the crowd enjoyed it all till well into the night!

New Delhi, 19th August 2007: Welcome to the official website of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman (DPA). It is non-profit site, voluntarily set up and maintained by the Parsis of New Delhi, Gurgaon and NOIDA.

Whenever you visit our site, you will see something new. It could be news about a forthcoming event, a review of a past event, or just information that’s relevant to our community.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: On this page you will also see announcements of births, navjotes, weddings, and other reasons to celebrate. We will also post the passing away of members of our community.

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW: Our attempt with this website, is also to share with the world at large more knowledge and information about our community, our religion, and the things we’re doing to help our small but vibrant community thrive and survive in the world today… and of course, information and recipes of Parsi Food!

FOR THE COMMUNITY, BY THE COMMUNITY: We invite visitors to our website and members of our community to contribute thoughts, anecdotes, articles, anything that is relevant to our community, and can provoke thought, as well provide as an actionable way forward.

The process is simple - just post your comments on the relevant pages, using the post comment tool, or send an email to our site webmaster using this link. Alternately, you can mail a hard copy of your contribution to us c/o The Delhi Parsi Dharamsala, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi.

ARCHIVES: All the articles/posts on this website will be archived once a month, and will be filed under various categories, and be available to anyone who wishes to browse through them later.

We hope you find value and enjoy our website as we find great joy in sharing it with you.

One of the fastest growing social networking sites in the world - Facebook - now has a new group called Parsi Youth. This group is created by a member of the Delhi Parsi Association and is meant to provide Parsi youth from all over the world with a common private forum to come together and get to know each other.

Facebook allows members to set up their own home pages giving details of themselves, their education, work, whatever… All this information remains private, and visible only to those who you allow by ‘confirming as friends’. This is quite different from other popular social networking sites.

The founder of this group hopes Parsi youth will use this forum to get to know others like them around the world, as well as get to know those around them much better.

To become a part of this group, Parsi youth must first register with Facebook and then search for the group Parsi Youth within Facebook and send in a request to join the group. Requests will get accepted within 24 hours.

We hope Parsi Youth across the world - agewise, or even young at heart - will join in large numbers.

Khordad Sal: Khordad Roz, Fravardin Mah ( (6th Day, 1st Month). On this day, the Prophet Zarathushtra’s birthday is celebrated symbolically.

Fravardigan: Fravardigan Roz, Fravardin Mah (19th Day, 1st Month). On this day, the Priests perform a Jashan in the vicinity of the Towers of Silence in memory of all the departed souls of the community.

Tiragan: Tir Roz, Tir Mah (13th Day, 4th Month). This summer festival is devoted to Tir, the Yazata of the rains and fertility. Tir is also associated with the dog star Sirius. On this day, people splash each other with water. This festival coincides with the celebration of the second seasonal Gahambar.

Meheragan: Meher Roz, Meher Mah (16th Day, 7th Month). This festival of early Autumn is dedicated to the Yazata Meher, a divinity associated with the sun and justice; the ripening of the crops and fruits.

Avan Roz nu Purab: Avan Roz, Avan Mah (10th Day, 8th Month). This day is celebrated as the birthday of the waters when Zoroastrians go to the waters and thanks to the great nourisher and purifier of the world. Special food and prayers are also offered to the water divinity on this day.

Adar Roz nu Purab: Adar Roz, Adar Mah (9th Day, 9th Month). This day is celebrated as the birthday of Fire, when Zoroastrians thank the Fire for the warmth and light given by it throughout the year. Traditionally, on this day food is not cooked in the house, as Fire is given a rest and special prayers including the litany to the Fire ‘Atash Niyayesh’ are recited in honour of the house Fire, or “Divo“

Jash-e-Sadeh: Ashtad Roz, Adar Mah (26th Day, 9th Month). This feast is celebrated in mid-winter 100 days before the advent of spring. It is from this point of time that the day becomes longer than the night, in order that the greater light and warmth may permeate the world. The Jashan is perfomed in the Aiwisruthrim gah which is the fourth evening watch of the Zoroastrian day.

Zardosht no Diso: Khorshed Roz, Dae Mah (11th Day, 10th Month). This is the day on which the death anniversary of the Prophet Zarathushtra symbolically falls. Special prayers are recited and traditionally Zoroastrians go to the Fire Temple as a mark of rememberance of their propher Zarathushtra.

Muktad - Festival of All Souls: Astad Roz, Spendarmad Mah (26th Day, 12th Month) to the 5th Gatha Day (the 5 Gatha days are supplementary days and therefore no month is ascribed to them). It is believed that during this 10 days festival, the Spirits (Farohars) of the dead visit their near and dear ones in the physical world. The Priests perform special rituals over cooked food, fruits and fresh flowers, during which the spirits of the departed are invoked in order to seek their protection and blessings in this world.

NavRoz - New Day: This is the most important day of the year and is recongnised as to be the Seventh Crowning Festival which immediately follows the Sixth Gahambar. Navroz is associated with the Seventh Creatiion Fire, and is linked to the Amesha Spenta Ardibehesht - the best truth. The Seventh Festival, bridges the old year to the new year, with the advent of Spring. The resurgence of life takes place during this period with the symbolic victory of the forces of light over darkness.

According to tradition, this festival was founded by the Prophet Zarathushtra himself, whom it is held, received his first revelation on this day.