Express News Service By

CHENNAI: Parzor Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that works towards preserving the Parsi culture, will be organising a crafts exhibition for the first time in Chennai on July 11.

The exhibition will be held at Hotel Greysuit, R A Puram. The collection at the exhibition will include traditional motifs, stoles, purses, bags, mobile covers, gift envelops and more.

The main aim of the Parzor Project, which later developed into the Parzor Foundation, is to create awareness about the Zoroastrian minority. The Parsi Zoroastrian heritage is a blend of four distinct traditions – Iranian, Chinese, Indian and European. These people are known for their Parsi embroidery, which clearly depicts the roots of their origins. Parsi textiles is a small scaled industry but a unique part of India’s textile heritage. The unique embroidery is a global art form that draws its best from the east and the west. A revival will not only awake this dying craft but also enhance the skill sets of Indian craftsmen and in turn enrich the textile world.

Parzor, along with the help of the Government of India, Textile Ministry, and languishing crafts programme has devised a plan to revive this ancient craft, train Indian artisans to acquire new skills as well as support the Parzor research through the sale of the items created.

A non- profit organisation, all the members of Parzor are volunteers and the sale proceeds from all items, books, and the films are put back to further its research programme.

The first Parzor craft workshop took place in Ahmedabad in the quiet precincts of Kankaria Hall, in the Prasi Fire Temple Complex where, Muslim karigars and master craftsmen taught Hindu women, Dalits and tribals from Radhanpur as well as women from the earthquake affected areas of Kutch and other villages this unique craft.

This clearly reveals that this craft encourages a blending of communities and cultures and acts as a vehicle of poverty alleviation by giving employment and livelihood, to those who wish to learn the craft and the people who know the craft.