Dear Members

This is for your information.

 

Fellow Zoroastrians, 

This is the FIRST Parade for the celebration of NOWRUZ Holiday in NEW
YORK  city and the Zoroastrian Community of New York area has decided to 
actively participate in the parade. It is the multicultural parade (on Saturday, 
MARCH 27, 2004) of many ethnic groups (besides Zoroastrians, it includes 
Ghajar, Assyrian, Armenian, Kurds, Belochi, Bakhteyari, Jewish, Azeri,
and Banderi, to name a few) celebrating Nowruz Holiday. There are 14 main 
floats in the form of Horse-driven carriages, first time such floats have been 
used. Besides that people will be marching with some groups of dancers
and music. Also there are going to be Marching Bands. After the usual
opening  groups of Parade Dignitaries (I believe that there are going to be some
very important people there), Marching Band, and Historical-Cultural float,
the  First Ethnic Float is the Zoroastrian float. 

The ZOROASTRIAN FLOAT comprises of three/four banners followed by a 
horse-driven carriage. In the carriage, there will be a person in Mobed 
dress with insignia in his hands and 2 young boys and girls standing on 
either side with the insignias in their hands. Behind the float, a large 
group of marchers will follow. WE ALL SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN LARGE
NUMBERS  TO  SHOW OFF OUR COMMUNITY. 
 
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO: 
Please go to the website www.persianparade.org click on Parade
Application, and then click on Persian Parade Application for Participation and you will see the Application in PDF format. Alternatively, type http://www.persianparade.org/PersianInvitation2.pdf on the internet and  you will directly go to the application. Please print a copy of the form (2 pages) and fill in your personal details. For the 4 lines of Organization details, state in the first line: ZOROASTRIAN GROUP and leave other 3 lines blank. Type of participation is Marcher. However, if you wish to fill in other boxes, you may do so. Sign the form and fax it directly to 973-471-8534. Please disregard the deadline date for application. After faxing the application, please send me an email indicating that you have registered. This will help me to ensure that your name is on the list of Participants. On the Parade Day, the organizers will check your name before allowing you to enter the Participant area. If you find any problem in registering, please email me with your full details. You may register on the Parade Day as well but this may be time consuming and will require a government issued ID and have to be verified by one or two of us, if you identify your group as Zoroastrian.

 
PARADE DETAILS:
The formation of the Parade participants is going to be on 41st Street between Fifth and Park Avenues. The Parade will be on Madison Avenue, from  41st to 28th Street and will begin promptly at 10 AM, lasting at the most  2  hours. It is advisable to come as early as possible, no later than 8 AM on  the Parade date. You will follow the Parade Rules & Guidelines printed on the application. Try and Avoid wearing black color clothes. Males
wearing Dagli, Dagla is strongly recommended but no black hats, Fetas or Paghadis. Women wear white dresses, suits or Persian colorful costumes. NO JEANS PLEASE. When you email me about your registration, please indicate whether you would like to volunteer for carrying the banners. Banners are light and each banner will be carried by a team of 2-3 persons. For each banner, I would arrange for at least 2 teams. For those people I have requested to be in the float, please confirm in your email to me that you will
participate in the float. If you have any questions, please email me. Thanks.
 
PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND LISTSERVE GROUPS. LETS GO OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS AND HAVE SOME FUN.
 
Homi D. Gandhi, President,
Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY)