JAMVA CHALOJI
a Pre-Congress Celebration and Fundraiser
for the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress 2022 (WZC2022)
“OUTSTANDING, SUPER, BRILLIANT, AND SUCCESSFUL”
…..just a few words from guests to describe the evening!
Memorable, perfectly organized, and the best JAMVA CHALOJI (JCJ) yet!
The team of volunteers worked feverishly with Nina Mistry at the helm who worked closely with Percis Bansal and kept us on our toes. Every day, numerous texts and non-stop emails flooded our inbox. My phone pinged at 11:30 pm most nights. Nina and Percis were still buzzing with ideas and updates.
Nina and Percis called on all the talented chefs in our community to make a dish each for the Lagan-nu-Bhonu and tapped on the culinary expertise of friends to make traditional Parsi goodies1 to sell at the foodfest. Locally made Bhakras, Curry Masalas, Khatai, Kheema Pattice, and Malido were complimented by Batasas, Camy Sali, Dar ni Pori, and Vasanu specially flown in fresh from Mumbai.
As registration numbers crossed 100 and inched over 150, Nina called, “we now have 170 sign-ups, way over the initially expected number of 125 that our volunteer chefs are cooking for.” But thankfully, and we’re so grateful, every one of them graciously agreed.
Next? Order more patras (banana leaves)! Rent more tables for the paath (rows for the sit-down banquet dinner)! Buy more supplies! Tweak the seating (yes, thanks to Arzan’s expertise, we even drew up the perfect seating chart to scale)! It took a dedicated team, many working until 1:00 am the night before the event to clean, dry and refrigerate over 275 patras, meticulously set up each place setting with bottles of Lagan nu Achar, Murambo, silverware, water bottles and glasses, arrange food sales and silent auction display tables, decorate with sagan na chaulk, and gift wrap party favors.
Guests arrived adorning their garas and tanchois, daglis and suits, and were welcomed to a Cocktail Hour complete with an open bar and the most delicious and scrumptious Persian appetizers2. As always, it was hard to decide between the Chicken and Beef Kabobs, Hummus and Yogurt Dip, while saving an appetite for the banquet meal to follow – the Persian appetizers have become a Jamva Chaloji favorite! And of course, delicious and crispy Bhajias3 added to the delightful selection. The cheerful meet-and-greet around the photo booth, food sales (needless to say, all the delicacies were sold out in a flash), and silent auction tables, with requests of “one more Parsi-peg of Black Label4, please” echoing from the bar, set the mood for an evening of merriment!
As festivities continued in the ballroom, ZAGNY President and emcee for the evening, Khursheed Navder, invited Astad Clubwala and Arzan Sam Wadia, WZC2022 Co-chairs, to say a few words. They reminded the more than 170 guests present that ZAGNY’s reputation to excel, successfully organize two previous North American Congresses, as well as build and inaugurate its new Dar-e-Mehr in record time had put ZAGNY on the map within North America. It was now time to make the World Congress, which returns to North America after 22 years, an exceptional event for the global Zoroastrian community. WZC2022 Fundraising Committee Co-chairs Edul Daver, Toos Daruvala and Percis Bansal took a moment to honor the WZC2022 Diamond ($100,000), Gold ($25,000), and Silver ($10,000) Sponsors we have to date, emphasizing that fundraising currently exceeds 60% of the target and efforts to raise funds will continue to ensure a successful WZC2022. They urged community members from around the world to contribute generously through sponsorships and ads.
The powerful voice of Malcolm Cooper, a celebrated Tenor from the Zoroastrian Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (ZAPANJ), assisted by his brother Burjis on sound, filled the room as he regaled the audience with two operatic renditions – Bravissimo! Malcolm then had the room rocking (literally!) with Queen favorites like “We will Rock You” and other timeless classics that left us all wanting more! Grazie to the Coopers for sharing their incredible talent with us.
Thanks to Jasmin Kotwal for launching the live auction items5 with such charm and grace from the stage while I added my sales pitch from amongst the audience. “Flying with Toos” was hands down the most sought-after auction item which included a designer Sari, a weekend-stay at the New York Hilton Midtown, and a Fendi evening bag.
“Dikra, Bhonu ekdam excellent che!”6 The Lagan nu Achar and Murambo enhanced the banquet menu as many savored it with their Rotli and Sariya. “Patra ni Machi toh A1+ che!”, Jardaloo Sali Marghi ketli delicious ne perfect khatti-meethi-teekhi che!”, “Seconds on Mutton Pulav malse ne?”, “Masala Dar toh finger-licking awesome baneech!”, “Lagan nu Custard toh Godiwala ne bhi maree jaye!”, “ne, Kulfi bhi che?”. The vegetarians were not to be disappointed as their Parsi thali included Patrel, Chutney Pattice, Parsi Stew, Bhaji, Ravaya and Papri, Vegetable Pulav, and Masala Dar. Not forgetting our youngest attendees who were thrilled to have their favorite pasta and chicken nuggets in addition to the traditional bhonu. What a feast! Our deepest gratitude to all the chefs for the love with which they always cook for this event!
It’s heartwarming that we were joined by 20 children for this cultural immersion, and it made us smile to hear some parents whisper to their children that this is how dinner was served at their wedding in Mumbai!
To Todd Colemann of Spruce Eats, thank you for spending your Saturday with us capturing the event in pictures to create a “Jamva Chaloji Insta Story” – a first for us!
To Chef Jehangir Mehta, our heartfelt sincerest thanks for working hard behind the scenes with help from Namdev Kumthekar to ensure meal prep for guests was flawless.
To all our silent auction item7 donors, our sincerest thanks for your valuable support always! A shout out to Rohit Bansal and Adil Mistry, without whose efficient and valuable help, we could not have made the food sales and silent auction tables a success.
To our door prizes sponsor Arzan Sam Wadia and party favors sponsor Sir|Madam, courtesy of Sylvia Pedder Khanna – thank you, thank you, thank you for delighting guests with something to take home along with the wonderful memories from the magical evening.
To Mr. Ketan of Patidar NJ, thank you for all your kind contributions to support our fundraiser.
To every one of our JCJ event sponsors, a million thanks for your support and generosity, we could not have pulled this off without you!
To all our volunteers8 who poured their heart into making this JCJ the best, including serving the banquet meal with their smiles lighting up their face behind their masks, we cannot thank you enough.
Last but not the least, a big thank you to all our guests for their enthusiastic participation in making Jamva Chaloji 2021 a success on every count!
We are thrilled to have added a Silver Sponsor for the WZC2022 and exceeded our goal of raising $20,000 from this event.
Now onward and forward to July 2022! We are working diligently to make WZC2022 just as outstanding and memorable, and urgently need your participation and support to make WZC2022 the best World Zoroastrian Congress yet!
The Congress website is: www.wzc2022.nyc (please visit the DONATE page on our website to contribute). We look forward to welcoming you in New York, July 1-4, 2022 for the WZC2022!
(Event recap by Behroze Clubwala and Nina Mistry)
1 Parsi Goodies, thanks to –
Bhakras Khursheed & Farokh Tarapore
Curry Masalas Ziya & Kairus Tarapore – From Thea’s Kitchen
Khatai Kamal & Cawas Desai
Kheema Pattice Navaaz Mehta
Malido Sheroo & Vispi Kanga
2 Persian appetizers, courtesy of the Iranian Zoroastrian Association (IZA)
3 Bhajias, courtesy of Nainshad (Nick) Maneckshaw
4 Liquor donations, thanks to –
Behroze & Astad Clubwala
Jasely & Kerman Dukandar
Nina & Adil Mistry
Pam & Fali Shroff
5 Live Auction items, thanks to –
“Flying with Toos” Hira & Toos Daruvala
Designer Sari Hoshi Karanjia – Anj Creations
Weekend-stay at the New York Hilton Midtown Hilton Hotels
Fendi evening bag LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc.
6 Lagan-nu-Bhonu (banquet menu), thanks to –
Lagan nu Achar Beroz & Jehan Kasad
Murambo Naomi Mobed – Le Bon Magot
Rotli Percis & Rakesh Bansal
Sariya Arzan Sam Wadia
Non-vegetarian:
Patra ni Machi Chef Jehangir Mehta
Jardaloo Sali Marghi Dilshad & Daara Todiwala
Goat Pulao Mehernosh Daroowalla – Karma Kafe
Masala Dar Beroz & Jehan Kasad
Vegetarian:
Patrel Patidar NJ
Chutney Pattice Navaaz Mehta
Parsi Stew Nilufer & Kaika Clubwala
Bhaji Dana Jasmin & Maneck Kotwal
Ravaya and Papri Soonoo & Porus Aria and Dilnaz & Malcolm Shroff Vegetable Pulav Percis & Rakesh Bansal
Masala Dar Beroz & Jehan Kasad
Kids meal: Jasely & Kerman Dukandar
Dessert:
Lagan nu Custard Dinci & Nausheer Avari and Khursheed Navder & Shailendra Dusaj
Kulfi Uday Prakash – Bombay Grill
7 Silent Auction items, thanks to –
Tinaz Cooper (Flavors of the World)
Niloufer & Edul Daver
Shanaya Deboo
Kerbanoo D’Rosario
Rashna & Kersi Harda
Burgese & Freny Jokhi (The Burgess Hotel, Atlanta)
Hoshi Karanjia (Anj Creations)
Ashdeen Lilaowala
Rayomand Maneckshaw (Revival)
Nina & Adil Mistry
Rishi & Vimal Pherwani (Argentum Jewels)
Xerxes Wania
8 Thank you to our volunteers –
Percis & Rakesh Bansal
Rohit Bansal
Mehru Cama
Rushad Cassad
Behroze & Astad Clubwala
Meherzeen Daruwalla
Niloufer & Edul Daver
Jasely & Kerman Dukandar
Khursheed Navder & Shailendra Dusaj
Kayomarz Khambatta
Nina & Adil Mistry
Dilnaz & Hiroiz Nalladaru
Dilnaz & Malcolm Shroff
Pam & Fali Shroff
Zarine & Sam Shroff
Arzan Sam Wadia
And a big round of applause for our youngest and most enthusiastic volunteers, Cyrus and Zarah Shroff!