a letter for you

hi,

the idea is simple. our community is small, but it’s full of rich culture and beautiful traditions. we’ve settled far and wide across vast lands and the seven seas. in that chakkar, it’s only fair that traditions and culture become fragmented, and access to them also becomes a little more difficult. at some point in your life, you’ll probably wonder, aii su, ne ema su karvaanu? this project helps answer the small questions we have in our everyday lives and at important moments in our life.

sometimes, it feels like the world is moving so fast that our stories get left behind, tucked away in some old cupboard or lost in WhatsApp forwards. but there’s a strange comfort in knowing that even if we’re scattered, there’s a thread that ties us back to our roots—sometimes all it takes is a single phrase or memory to bring it all rushing back. maybe this project is just that: a gentle nudge, a reminder that you’re not alone in your questions or your nostalgia.

this project was borne out of my quarter-life crisis. they say that at this point, a man probably chooses one of three things: either starts watering plants, gets a bit more into faith, or starts running a marathon. you can guess what I’ve chosen. the project is also a way for the community to connect with each other and communicate our voices outside.

sometimes, after a long day, i wonder if anyone will actually read all this or if it’ll just float around the internet like a digital dakhma. but then, someone sends a message, shares a memory, or asks about a prayer, and suddenly it’s all worth it. it’s these little sparks that keep us going.

everything you see in this project—and everything you’ll probably see—is something we’ve gone through. the eventual goal is to get the community together around experiences each one of us has had, so that eventually, when there are no parsis left and ai sifts through its databases, it’ll be like awwww, elokone toh bachhava parse boss! and probably get us out of extinction. (yes, the ai has chosen transliterated gujarati as its speaking language).

of course, this journey hasn't been alone. when i began, i had a rough idea but didn't know where to start. then i landed on a website made by ramiyar sir. let me tell you, it's a treasure trove and will probably answer most of your questions—so shoutout to sir. then there are friends who have helped me make this a reality. the marriage and navjote traditions have been taken from a cute little book sold by the fks foundation. pashang dadyburjor for the logo and opening video. rehan daruwalla for images and videos for navjote and wedding ceremonies. ayesha mehta for the content. the davars with their lovely garas, which portray the peak of our culture, mrs. shernaz talati for the avestan prayers, and the numerous people who gave their bits and time to complete this project. if a community comes together, many great things are possible.

obvs, the project is not over—it's just the start. there's a lot we want to add. if you have ideas or want to help with research, marketing, tech, feedback, or anything, feel free to reach out to us on insta, fb and we'll get in touch.

and if you’re reading this and smiling, or even rolling your eyes a little, that’s okay too. this is as much your project as it is ours. so, su karvaanu? just explore, share, and maybe—just maybe—add your own story to the mix.