Mumbai News: Parsis Outraged Over Club Remix Of Sacred Zoroastrian Chant 'Ashem Vohu'; BPP Seeks Cybercrime Action

Mumbai: A video featuring a sacred Zoroastrian prayer set to club music, with dancers sashaying to the chants, has appalled Parsis. After calls and messages from community members, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, their apex trust, said they have asked social media platforms to block the video.

Viraf Mehta, the chairman of BPP, said that they are in the process of filing complaints with the cybercrime department of the police. Dennis Taraporewalla, the singer, said he shared a reel of a prayer taught by his father.

Parsi community protests club remix of sacred chant ‘Ashem Vohu’

Mehta said the video portrays the sacred Zoroastrian prayer, Ashem Vohu, in a manner that is blasphemous and offensive to religious sentiments. We urge all members of the Parsi community to assist in reporting and blocking the said video across all platforms. Collective action will amplify the gravity of the issue and prompt expedited attention and action from the concerned authorities, the BPP Board of Trustees said in a statement.

Taraporewalla said he was expressing his spirituality through chants, music, and songs in praise of the divine. "The video was shared on my private social media page as a quiet celebration of that spirit, intended for an audience of friends and family who know me and understand the context. It was not meant for public circulation, nor was it intended to provoke debate, cause offence, or attract undue attention," said Taraporewalla.

According to Taraporewalla, the video was illegally downloaded and circulated across messaging platforms and social media groups, with abusive language. "Out of sensitivity and respect for differing sentiments, I chose to take down the video from my page immediately, even though there was no obligation to do so."

Taraporewalla said he had the support of community forums and prominent Zoroastrians who not only removed the post but also issued a public apology. "As a community at a crossroads, I believe we must nurture spiritual expression with openness, compassion, and creativity, not judgment or public shaming," he added, referring to the demographic crisis in the community, which was declining in numbers.

Some Parsis called the video 'blasphemous', and suggested that the creators needs to be prosecuted. Others thought that the young generation will probably be more inclined to pray the Ashem Vohu after listening to this version. They hoped that community panchayats do not take on this matter legally as there are more important issues that they need to address.