The management team of Tehran fire temple, formed of the Mobed Association and the Tehran Zoroastrian Association, published their 6-monthly report of their religious and cultural activities.
In March of last year, regarding the joint management of Tehran Fire temple. the report starts with a few lines about how the joint management group of Tehran Adorian was established and the drafting of a memorandum of understanding between the Mobed Association and Tehran Zoroastrian Association, which is ;printed here-below: After the anomalous corona period ended and with the possibility of the presence of all co-religionists in religious and cultural places, especially Adorian, the Mobedan Association and the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran decided to prepare the Adorian complex of Tehran for the presence of dear co-religionists by creating suitable conditions. In this regard, in Esfand 1401 (March 2022), a new memorandum was signed between the Mobedan Association and the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran for the integrated management of Adorian Tehran. Based on the terms of the memorandum, the Mobed Association is responsible for managing all religious affairs of the the fire temple and the Zoroastrian ?Association of Tehran is responsible for executive matters and financial support, so the two associations can manage the Tehran Adorian Complex competently.
Based on this memorandum, the management group of Tehran Adorian was established, consisting of four members of the Mobedan Association and three members of the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran. Upon establishing goals and development and religious/cultural plans, it has prioritized the activities and implemented them accordingly.
The selection of Adorian’s supervisor has been one of the most important programs of the management group since their work started. On this basis, a job description and also specifications and characteristics of this supervisor was brought on paper. Applications were received after a two-stage call by the Tehran Zoroastrian Association. Finally, among the four applicants, after selection and interview, Mrs Farahnaz Goshtasb was selected as supervisor of Tehran Adorian.
The supervisor has started working from the 1st of September and is present Tehran Adorian every week from Saturday to Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and on Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
We need to explain that the Adorian supervision is a medium layer management, that, in the current structure, establishes connection between Adorian Tehran member group, on one hand, and the Mobeds, respondents and employees of Tehran Adorian on the other hand. Our fellow community members can share their suggestions and criticisms with Adorian Tehran member group through the Adorian’s supervisor.
The infrastructural activities in Adorian Tehran focuses on the Atash Behram.
A plan for continuous presence of the Mobeds in the fire temple.
Belief in the holiness of the Atash Behram, as the main base for the Zoroastrians’ unity, and the present of the mobed who looks after the fire, the need for re-arrange the fire’s care-taking programs has been put as second priority of the Adorian management group. In this regard, a schedule for continuous presence of our revered mobeds in the Adorian, has been organized by the Mobed Association, and from the 1st of September, the activities of the Mobeds in carrying out care-taking of the Atash Behran, as well as holding ceremonies for our co-believers, have started. It is worth mentioning that during the corona virus pandemic, the fire was taken care of by Mr Darius Mobed, with the certificate and approval of the Mobed Association, and his tireless efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. He will continue his duties towards the Atash Behram together with the other mobeds.
In this regard, based on research conducted on the fire-keeping method among the mobeds who look after the fire, the Mobed Association has compiled a similar method for feeding the fire and keeping the fire for all mobeds of Tehran fire temples.
Fire room
To improve the conditions of the fire room, the management group of Adorian Tehran has carried out activities such as improving the entrance, cleaning stones, and its ventilation system.
To improve the ventilation system of the fire room, the necessary investigations were carried out to possibly repair and improve the structure of the chimneys and the roof of the fire room. In this regard, after discussing with experienced engineers, cultural heritage experts and informed members of the Zoroastrian community, visiting other fire temples in Yazd and Kerman, exchanging opinions, and benefiting from the restoration experience of some of them, it was concluded that to fundamentally improve the ventilation system The fire room needs to remove the current false ceiling and re-examine and, if necessary, repair the central dome and its chimneys. Of course, considering the age of the Adorian building and especially the special conditions of the roof of the fire room, and according to the advice of experts and some religious considerations mentioned by the Mobedan Association, it was not considered advisable to do this in the current situation. For this purpose, to solve the current problem, the ventilation system (centrifugal fan), related wiring, and some modifications of the false ceiling were changed.
Suitable firewood for the use of Atash Bahram in Adorian, Tehran, and the correct way to store it
Providing suitable firewood for the Atash Behram fire, and using ceremonial wood in Adorian Tehran is one of the most important strategic plans of Adorian Tehran Management Group. For this purpose, during the past months, types of wood were examined from a religious and scientific point of view, including how to economize the use of wood and make it more efficient, and setting up a regular program in their transfer and the correct way of storing them.
In this regard, with cooperation of the executive board of Tehran Zoroastrian cemetery, part of the iron storage room in the cemetery has been repaired. Also, by emptying and repairing the existing firewood store room in Tehran Adorian, and making shelves for it, the storing of firewood methodically became possible. From now onwards, a usage chart will be [prepared to show the arrival of firewood procured from supply sources, transfer to Adorian, and respective costs.
To provide suitable firewood for the Atash Behram, a donor has purchased 4.5 tons of firewood from Yazd and also borne the expenses for building the shelves.
Fellow Zoroastrians can always donate towards the cost of suitable firewood for the Atash Behram.
Yasht Khaneh
One of the most essential parts of every fire temple is the room attached to the fire temple, where, according to long standing religious traditions, “Yazeshn-khani” is performed by the priests called “Yazeshngar”. This room is also called Arvisgah. At present, the Yazeshn-khani prayers are held during the gahanbar vaj yasht. The Mobed Association is planning to revise traditions such as the Yazeshn-khani ceremony. In this regard, the management group of Adorian, with the guidelines of the Mobedan Association, has taken action to restore the structure of Tehran’s Adorian marina. the structure of Tehran Adorian’s “arvisgah” with specific dimensions and their correct arrangement and the preparation of Yazshangari ritual tools have been among the most critical tasks in Arvisgah. To create a suitable atmosphere for this ceremony, the place of Arvisgah has been separated from other parts.
It should be noted that cost of the stones used in the arvisgah and the separating glass, and other necessary tools, have been borne by the husband and children of the late Mehrangiz Dastur: Mehraban Dastur and Tirandaz Mazdeyasni.
Mobeds’ room
As always, the Tehran Zoroastrian Association sees it its responsibility to maintain and upkeep Tehran Adorian and the atash Behram, which symbolizes “truth” and has been the banner of the Zoroastrian religion, with its many thousands of years of Iran’s culture, nationality and religious identity.
Assigning an independent account to Adorian Tehran
With the goal of strengthening the unity between Zoroastrians and spreading the age-old tradition of donating towards improvement and maintenance of Tehran Adorian and Atash Behram, and as proposed by the management group of Tehran Adorian, a separate account has been opened with the following specifications.
To create the unity of co-religionists and expand the long-standing tradition of Dehesh in the improvement and maintenance of Adorian Tehran and Atash Bahram, with the proposal of the management group of Adorian Tehran, an account number with the following specifications has been assigned to Adorian Tehran. Fellow believers can help Adorian Tehran’s management group advance their goals with their thoughts.
Account number: 00201103022003
Shaba number: 340540103981021103022003 IR
Card number: 6221-0612-0612-9119-3904
Bank Parsian Hafez branch account in the name of Tehran Zoroastrian Association
Upcoming executive programs:
Improvement and reconstruction of other places in Adorian Tehran, including the bathroom reconstruction, the water tank next to the kitchen, the creation of other suitable spaces for religious ceremonies, the improvement of the eastern hall, and the restoration of the museum.
Holding course for responding to religious queries, under supervision of Mobed Association, and also reviewing the implementing appropriate ways for visitors to visit the Adorian complex and the affiliated buildings. The provision of white fabric hats in a sufficient number and the possibility of washing them continuously are other measures in progress.
