At the opening of the 32nd Manthra Conference, Mobed Mehrab Vahidi described the event as a platform for reflection and emphasized that Manthra is valuable because it broadens and deepens participants’ perspectives.
Following the opening recitation of the Avesta, Mobed Vahidi spoke on behalf of the Mobeds’ Association, greeting participants and organizers and expressing gratitude to those who traveled from afar to engage with the teachings of Manthra. He also praised the Zoroastrian Students’ Association and the conference organizers for this year’s slogan, “Manthra: The Essence of Awakening in the Pen of Tomorrow’s Generation,” highlighting how the words—essence, awakening, pen, and generation—come together meaningfully. He stressed that the Manthra Conference is significant because it nurtures deeper understanding and insight.
Mobed Vahidi noted that today there are 20 to 30 graduates in Persian language, literature, and ancient languages who were inspired by the Manthra Conference to pursue these studies and have since advanced in their fields.
Farshad Farhifar, head of the Cultural Commission of the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran, also addressed the attendees, offering a warm welcome and honoring past Manthra instructors such as Mobed Jahangir Oshidari, Shahnaz Shahzadi, Ustad Khodabakhsh, and Gashtasp Bahramshahri.
Keykhosrow Eshtari, secretary of the Zoroastrian Students’ Association, spoke about the eight months of effort invested by association members to organize the conference and expressed his gratitude. He noted that at one point it was uncertain whether the conference could take place due to the country’s circumstances, but now, despite challenges, the 32nd Manthra Conference is successfully underway. He also thanked the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran for resolving water issues at the Markar complex and expressed appreciation to the benefactors, participants, and visitors who supported the event.
The organizers of the opening ceremony also honored the memory of Mobed Mehraban Firouzgar and outlined the programs for this year’s conference. These included a training course for judging Avesta recitation, the “Zang Ashah” challenge, presentation skills classes during the Manthra conference camp, and separate judging sessions for the Gahani and Gatas studies competitions in two age groups: under 18 and over 18. They also mentioned that in the Manthra Gostaran section, public input was sought to select roundtable topics, along with the Manthra excitement contest and a cultural and religious exhibition.
During the program, attendees enjoyed a live Daf performance.
Following the opening ceremony, the first day of the conference proceeded according to the previously announced schedule. The 32nd Manthra Conference opening began at 16:00 with Avesta recitation by Mobed Hormoz Khosroviani at the Markar Complex in Tehranpars and continued until 17:00.
The 32nd Manthra Conference on Avesta recitation and Gatas studies is being held from 26 to 28 Shahrivar 1404 (September 17–19, 2025) at Markar Tehranpars.
