Zoroastrian Return to Roots

06/04/2026

The Zoroastrian Return to Roots Program (RTR) is excited to launch the RTR Alumni Grant, which aims to support our program alumni in creating new initiatives to benefit the Zoroastrian community.

🎓We invite proposals from alumni that align with the RTR values of reconnecting Zoroastrians with their heritage while building vibrant, engaged, and organized communities for the future.

💰Selected proposals will receive funding up to $3000 USD to execute their idea within 12 months of selection.

Projects must focus on at least one of the four highlighted categories:
👉Cultural Preservation
👉Community Engagement and Organization
👉Storytelling
👉Research

Eligibility:
🔹Lead applicant must be an RTR Alumni
🔹Projects may have collaborators (individuals supporting the ex*****on of the proposal) who are not RTR Alumni, however teams composed primarily of RTR alumni will be given preference
🔹Proposals must have a clear timeline that can be executed within 12 months of receiving the grant

Proposals must be one PDF, 5 pages maximum and include the following:
🔸Description of the project
🔸Main Category of Focus - Proposals should clearly indicate the main goal they are focusing on and how they reflect the values of RTR
🔸Description of the team members and their roles
🔸Budget (include all potential costs to execute the proposal in USD)
🔸Execution Plan: Proposed Activities, 12-month Timeline, and Success Metrics

Alumni collaboration across generations and regions is especially encouraged. Bring your vision to life, strengthen cultural continuity, and inspire the future of Zoroastrian life!

The deadline for proposals is August 15, 2026. Please send proposals to [email protected]

Please visit www.zororoots.org/grant for detailed information about the alumni grant.

06/03/2026

🌟SAVE THE DATE: Don’t miss our upcoming FEZANA Talks focused on Zoroastrians in the media!

The FEZANA Talks is excited to bring together two internationally recognized journalists of Zoroastrian heritage, Kainaz Amaria and Del Irani, to explore how storytelling shapes identity, representation, and community ✨

🎙️Moderated by filmmaker Tanya Hoshi, the discussion will examine how the media can preserve our Zoroastrian heritage while engaging younger generations across the global diaspora.

Date: Saturday March 7th, 2026
Time: 12 Noon Eastern | 9 AM Pacific | 5 PM London | 10:30 PM Mumbai

Join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/postattendee?mn=kbjRUScpb2xYnwDbZWCSVePs_eMSUqxSsa0w.ZViKRaRCLqqqIuZj

🎤Del Irani is a U.S.-based, award-winning journalist and TV anchor who has hosted programs on BBC World News, ABC News (Australia), and NHK World-Japan.

She currently anchors Deeper Look, an in-depth current affairs program broadcast to 300 million households across 160 countries and regions on NHK World.

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🎤Kainaz is a Pulitzer-prize winning visual editor and creative leader. At the Washington Post, Kainaz worked on their most ambitious stories including “Terror On Repeat,” a visually-driven story that published never-before-seen photographs of America’s deadliest mass shootings. That story was part of the series “American Icon,” which on the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.

In 2020, Kainaz was honored with the John Long Ethics Award by the National Press Photographers Association for upholding, shaping, and promoting ethical behavior in visual journalism through her writing and criticism. In 2010, Kainaz was a Fulbright Scholar based in Mumbai, India.

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🎤Tanya Hoshi is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker focused on producing bold, socially driven stories across documentary and scripted formats. Her projects have been acquired by networks including CBC, CNN, and NBC, and had premieres at Oscar-qualifying festivals such as Hot Docs and TIFF.

Since 2020, Tanya has held the role of Head of Communications for FEZANA, where she has produced over 1000 pieces of original digital content featuring stories about Zoroastrianism and the Zoroastrian community.

To read full bios, please visit FEZANA.org/category/talks

23/03/2025

A visit to the Dadar Athornan Institute is a must and we have been coming here every RTR. Ervad Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia, a world renowned scholar and priest and the Principal of the DAI....the only seminary in the world to train Zoroastrian priests,interacts with our Fellows and patiently answers questions about theology, faith and customs. We also got a chance to meet with the young mobeds-in-training and they were a wonderful bunch of kids, full of life.

22/03/2025

22/03/2025

And with the lunch at Ripon Club on Navroze day.....it's a wrap !!! The 8th Return To Roots 2025 is one for the history books. As these RTR Fellows head back to their countries they go with a renewed sense of identity and knowledge of their faith. But very importantly they take with them amazing memories of India....a land that has allowed Zoroastrianism and Parsis and Iranis to thrive and flourish over the centuries. We can't wait to see all the amazing ways these Fellows engage with their own communities and faiths back in their homelands. RTR for Life !

21/03/2025

What a true honour and privilege to be in the company of Vada Dasturji Dr. Kotwal on this auspicious day of Jamshedi Navroze. On the last day of the trip we will be visiting the 4 Atashbehrams in Mumbai. With this we will have visited all the 8 Atashbehrams in India on this trip.

21/03/2025

We start the last day of the 8th Return To Roots Program 2025 with a visit to the Bhikha Behram Well. Today is the celebratory Jashan to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Well.

20/03/2025

What an honor to meet with Nadir Godrej, one of India'S leading businessmen. He explained the workings of Godrej in his unique style with a poem. The Fellows had a chance to interact with him afterwards.

20/03/2025

A visit to the beautiful home of Jimmy and Delna Mistry and their children Pearl, Natalia and Farhaan is always a fantastic experience. We have been coming here since the first RTR and they are gracious hosts who tice everyone such an amazing time. The Fellows got a chance to speak extensively with Jimmy and hear of his life stories and business and entrepreneurship lessons.