FEZANA announces historic 'Zoroastrian Days' at Texas State Capitol, Rice University, March 5 and 6
Organized by FEZANA’s Advocacy Committee, Zoroastrian Days will foster interfaith dialogue, build bridges and increase awareness for the many contributions of Zoroastrians in the Lone Star State
HOUSTON — FEZANA, the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, today announced its Advocacy Committee will hold Zoroastrian Days at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, March 5, and at Rice University in Houston, March 6. The two special days of engagement advance the Advocacy Committee’s mission to inform, articulate, and advance awareness and causes that positively impact Zoroastrians residing in the North American diaspora.
At the Texas State Capitol, State Rep Salman Bhojani (D, TX-HD 92) will host the Texas Zoroastrian community and FEZANA representatives. This opportunity provides elected Texas State Senators and Representatives an opportunity to learn about the many contributions of today’s more than 1,100 Zoroastrians residing and thriving in Texas dating back to more than five decades.
The day will be highlighted by a special Resolution to be delivered on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives by Rep. Bhojani, the first South Asian and first Muslim American to be voted into the Texas House of Representatives. The resolution reading will be followed by a meet and greet, a group photo, a tour of the Capitol and also the opportunity leave a copy of a Zoroastrian religious text selection at the Texas State Chapel.
“We are honored and excited to join elected Texas leaders for what promises to be an insightful introduction to the Zoroastrian faith, and to share insight on our storied religion and the remarkable impact we have made across the great state of Texas,” said FEZANA President Erv. Kayomarz (Kayo) Y. Sidhwa. “As a Zoroastrian priest and a proud Texan, I’m particularly humbled by the opportunity to increase awareness for and appreciation of our revered religion.”
Zoroastrian Days continues the following day on the campus of prestigious Rice University in Houston and will spotlight: the surge in Zoroastrian population growth in recent years; the opening of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston’s Atash Kadeh fire temple, the first 24-hour continuous wood burning Zoroastrian fire temple in North America; and a special fireside chat with special guest Prof. Miguel Ángel Andrés-Toledo, the first FEZANA Professor of Zoroastrian Languages & Literatures in the Department of Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto. The day’s events will conclude with a special screening of Persepolis Recreated, a fascinating documentary spanning Persian kings, palaces, architecture, art, culture and history of ancient Persia’s famed capital.
In December 2024, FEZANA and the Zoroastrian Association of Houston held Generation Z: Propelling Zarathushti Resurgence at the 18th North American Zoroastrian Congress that brought more than 700 Zoroastrians to Houston for a memorable and inspiring conference celebrating the growth of Zoroastrianism in the North American diaspora. Greater Houston is home to just over 700 Zoroastrians, the largest and fastest growing population of Zoroastrians in Texas, followed by Zoroastrians residing in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Anyone interested in learning more about Zoroastrian Days in Texas can send an email to advocacy@fezana.org.
Zoroastrians are followers of one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions founded by the prophet Zarathushtra more than 3,000 years ago in ancient Iran. Zoroastrians have long served as bridge builders in interfaith dialogue, believing in truth, righteousness, charity, beneficence, respect and care for the environment, and the triumph of good over evil. Zoroastrianism flourished as the imperial religion of three Persian empires, those of the Achaemenians, Parthians and Sassanians, 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 the Zoroastrian Association of Houston and Zoroastrian Association of North Texas
The Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) was established in 1976 to promote the religious, social, and cultural aspects of the Zoroastrian faith. ZAH is fortunate to have local Mobeds (priests) who conduct religious services, ceremonies, and rituals; numerous individuals whose serve on executive boards and committees provide leadership and vision. In 2019, ZAH was the first Zoroastrian association in North America to erect a 24-hour wood burning fire Atash Kadeh, a revered, all-inclusive place of worship for Zoroastrians their family members and friends.
The Zoroastrian Association of North Texas (ZANT) is a non-profit organization established in 1989 to nurture, advance, and promote the religious, social and cultural aspects of Zoroastrian faith. In 2011, ZANT established the ZANT Center in Flower Mound, TX, a place where the community gathers for religious and social events.
About FEZANA
Founded in 1987, the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) represents a diverse and growing Zarathushti community in the western diaspora. Guided by the blessings of Ahura Mazda and the teachings of prophet Zarathushtra, the non-profit federation serves as the coordinating body for 27 Zoroastrian associations and 14 corresponding groups in Canada and the United States. The activities of FEZANA are conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, cooperation and unity among all member associations, and with due regard for the Zarathushti principles of goodness, truth, reason, benevolence, implicit trust and charity toward all mankind. Visit www.fezana.org and follow FEZANA on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook @TheFEZANA, and on LinkedIn.
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Contact:
Jim Engineer
FEZANA
(630) 728-1387
pr@fezana.org
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