The Inspiring Voice of the Gathas Resonates in Shiraz

The First Day of the Preliminary Round of the Manthra Festival

The first day of the preliminary round of the Manthra Avesta Recitation and Gatha Studies Festival was held on Monday, July 27, beginning at 4:00 p.m., in the Late Yezdani Hall at the Shiraz Religious, Cultural, and Sports Complex. A total of 20 participants in various age and competition categories recited selected passages from the Gathas.

The participants competed in the following categories:

• Memorization (Under 10 years): Artemis Esfandiarian, Sarva Pourdehi Zinabad, Vania Khosraviani, Viana Khosraviani, Janan Kavousi Zinabad, Mahian Kavousi Zinabad
• Ahunavaiti Gatha: Mitra Javanmard, Akhtar Falahati, Nahid Felfeli
• Ushtavaiti & Spenta Mainyu Gathas: Parsa Dehmobed Sharifabadi
• Complete Gathas: Golandam Bahar, Farnoush Faridani
• Memorization (Ages 10–18): Rata Pourdehi Zinabad, Artan Sarayi, Aramis Kaviani
• Memorization (Over 18 years): Farnam Iraji, Golandam Bahar, Anahita Peshoutanizadeh, Parsa Dehmobed Sharifabadi, Kianoush Rashidi, Mahnoush Rashidi

The ceremony began with the program host welcoming the audience and officially announcing the start of the preliminary round of Manthra in Shiraz. The event opened with the recitation of the thought-provoking verses of the Gathas by Shirin Manouchehri and Farnam Iraji.

The competition commenced with the Under-10 Memorization category under the supervision and judging of Azita Qods. Following the order listed in the event brochure, each child was invited to the stage to recite a favorite passage from Ha 28. Their heartfelt performances delighted the audience. The youngest participant was just over three years old, and each child eagerly ran up the steps to the stage when their name was announced, creating a memorable and joyful atmosphere.

The remaining participants then presented the required passages in their respective categories. Khodamorad Parsimehr served as the on-site judge, while Mahtab Laryan and Shervin Kavousi Zinabad evaluated the performances remotely.

Following the conclusion of the recitations, Khosrow Qods, President of the Shiraz Zoroastrian Association, addressed the gathering. He expressed his gratitude to the participants, their teachers, and especially to the parents for nurturing their children's religious commitment and cultural growth. He also thanked Mobed Mehraban Pouladi, President of the Association of Mobeds, for attending the event and emphasizing the importance of the Manthra religious festival.

Khosrow Qods further praised the Zoroastrian Students' Association for its successful organization and management of three major community events: the Jam-e Janbakhtegan, the Zoroastrian Students' Camp, and the Manthra Avesta Recitation and Gatha Studies Festival. He described the Students' Association as a vital institution within the Zoroastrian community, driven by the energy and dedication of its young members, and expressed hope that it would continue to grow stronger and more experienced each year.

Addressing the demographic challenges facing the Zoroastrian community, he remarked:

"Under these circumstances, every one of us must become more active than ever before and be willing to accept greater responsibilities so that we can compensate for our declining population and ensure that neither the quality of our programs nor the vitality of our community is diminished."

Mobed Mehraban Pouladi, President of the Association of Mobeds, then spoke, thanking the organizers of the Manthra Festival and praising the enthusiastic participation of the Zoroastrians of Shiraz. He called for continued support from the Zoroastrian community for the efforts of the young volunteers who organize these important events. He described his own attendance as a duty in his capacity as a member of the Association of Mobeds.

He also paid special tribute to the adult participants—many of whom are now mothers and grandmothers within the community—and suggested that the Zoroastrian Students' Association consider creating a special recognition or incentive for participants in these age groups.

In the final speeches, Shahram Pourdehi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Shiraz Zoroastrian Association, acknowledged the many years of dedication shown by members of the Zoroastrian Students' Association in organizing some of the community's largest gatherings. While thanking the organizers for holding the preliminary round in person despite various challenges, he said:

"When someone who has served the Zoroastrian community passes away, we stand in silence for one minute in their honor. Today, I ask you instead to stand and applaud for one minute in honor of the Zoroastrian Students' Association—which is alive, creating, and building—and for its representatives who are here with us today."

His invitation was met with an overwhelming standing ovation, moving many of the organizers to tears.

Concluding his remarks, Pourdehi addressed the long-standing concern over the declining average age of participants and the limited involvement of young adults and older generations in the Manthra Festival. He noted:

"This year, half of Shiraz's participants were over the age of twenty. If we wish to criticize the Students' Association, we should first take the initiative ourselves. Former participants and veterans of the festival should once again extend a hand of friendship to Manthra and return to this great religious gathering."

The ceremony concluded with the patriotic anthem "Ey Iran, Ey Marz-e Por Gohar" ("O Iran, O Land of Precious Gems") echoing throughout the hall. Organizers, participants, and attendees stood together in honor of Iran, joining their voices in a moment of unity and national pride.

After the two-hour program ended, participants and organizers took commemorative photographs with the Presidents of the Association of Mobeds and the Shiraz Zoroastrian Association. Guests were then welcomed with refreshments, including traditional sweets and sherbet.

One particularly noteworthy aspect of this year's event was the significant increase in participation. While the Shiraz preliminary rounds in 2024 and 2025 had attracted 11 and 13 participants respectively—and since 2016 participation had never exceeded 13—this year's Avesta recitation competition welcomed 20 participants. Organizers also anticipate stronger participation in the Manthrak and Gatha Studies sections of the festival.