The Zoroastrian Association of Greater Chicago observed Gatha Days and Muktad Prayers and meals ceremonies and Zoroastrian New Year’s (Nowruz) celebrations at the ‘Darbe Mehr” or temple in Burr Ridge, Ill. Aug. 12- 17.
The center, which was built in September 1983, is one of only 3 or 4 Zoroastrian temples in the United States and provides religious services to close to 200 families and a total of 600 individuals in the Midwest, primarily due to the fact that most practicing that faith are born into the faith, and there are few conversions allowed.
“If we don’t actively seek converts, we are all born into the faith. Of course, if someone feels a kin to the faith, we welcome them but converts are rare, and in India it is still not allowed although in North America we are quite open,” said founders Rohinton Rivetna and his wife.
Priest Kersi Antia said the basic tenants of the faith is that there is one God, known as Ahura Mazda or “wise, lord “ and the faith places great importance on “wisdom” and that from a “good mind, flows good thoughts, good words and good deeds.” These words are often inscribed in Zoroastrian alters and fire is the representation of divinity and all temples have a eternal flame.
“Our basic tenets are 5 — there is one lord encapsulated by wisdom, second is righteousness following the natural law of order and harmony with nature, third is service to humanity that we are born to be like the supreme beings and having an affinity for all of creation by rendering service to humanity and devotion to family, and if you practice these 4 attributes you reach the 5th and achieve perfection and immortality,” priest Antia said.
Members of Zoroastrian faith observe 5 days honoring their ancestors who have passed away, during a time called the “Gatha”, days prior to the beginning of the New Year. According to the founders, “the idea is not to appease the souls of their ancestors but to actually understand and commemorate the union of those with that of the divinity.”
During the five days families bring flowers, food items, fruits and submit names of the departed family members, and priests perform daily Muktad prayer, fire ceremonies during the last 5 days of the year. The New Year is celebrated with Tandarosti prayer, which is a recitation of a special prayer.
The center offers services, including new initiation called Navjot, wedding ceremonies which generally involve 40 pieces of advice or admonitions that are given to the bride and groom, the most important of them being “to win each other righteousness not love”, and death ceremonies which traditionally call for bodies to be disposed naturally, although these days most perform cremation and some times burials as well.
For more information about the center please visit www.zac-chicago.org.
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