Category: Events

The 5ᵗʰ Zoroastrianism Summer School Zoroastrianism in a Global World offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the world’s oldest religions as it continues to shape lives in India, Iran and the U.K. Over the course of this programme, you will explore the rich traditions, rituals and contemporary dynamics of Zoroastrian communities, gaining valuable insights into their culture and heritage.

• Who Can Apply: Current Undergraduate and Postgraduate students, as well as graduates.
• Fees: No tuition fees; a £80 registration fee applies for successful applicants.
• Bursaries: Funding of up to £800 is available to assist with travel and accommodation costs.
• Dates: 30ᵗʰ June – 4ᵗʰ July 2025.
• Location: SOAS University of London.
• Deadline: 11.59 pm, 12ᵗʰ March 2025.

Spaces are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to broaden your horizons and gain a deeper understanding of a living tradition. To find out how to apply, please visit our website.

Co-organised by the SOAS Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies and the Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture of the University of Irvine, California, this summer school is a great opportunity for those students who take an interest in anthropology, art history, archaeology, philosophy, religions, language, cultures and history. It provides an opportunity to meet other students passionate about Zoroastrianism and to network with leading academics in the field. 

A lecture by Saloumeh Gholami, University of Cambridge, and Mehraban Pouladi, Mōbedān Council (Iran), entitled:

The vanishing Zoroastrian presence in Ahvaz: Historical evolution, migration and the threat to cultural heritage

Friday 18 October 5:30pm, AIIT, Cambridge.

This lecture offers an exploration of the complex history of the Zoroastrian community in Ahvaz, a city in the province of Khuzestan in Iran. Because of economic hardship and agricultural decline in Yazd, Zoroastrians started migrating there in the early 20th century. Earlier censuses from the 19th century, such as those by Hataria in 1854 and Houtum-Schindler in 1882, record no Zoroastrian presence in Ahvaz. The earliest mention of Zoroastrians in the city appears in the 1963 census, which was prepared for the National Zoroastrian Congress held in Kerman that same year. The Zoroastrian community in Ahvaz has so far found little, if any scholarly attention due to the dearth of documentation. However, as a result of new archival evidence from the Pouladi Collection, unearthed by the speakers in 2016, new data has emerged that throws light on the reasons for the migration from Yazd to Ahvaz. The new documents provide evidence that Zoroastrian settlements were established in the 1920s along the Karun River through the agricultural enterprise, the Mazdyasnān Company. This lecture examines how the Zoroastrian community of Ahvaz flourished in their new home, contributing to the prosperity of the region, but later, despite its successes, gradually declined. This development raises critical questions regarding the preservation of minority heritage in Iran.

Summary