The AVA Project
The Zoroastrians revere water and all creations. Our traditional philosophy and practices of water conservation regain significance in a world facing acute water shortage. Our collective hopes lie in our ability to understand their continuities in contemporary practice. In the Ava Project, we have curated resources that take us closer to the synergy between reverence to nature, ecology, and human action. The Tankas, for instance, created and used by the Parsis in Bharuch, Gujarat is a testament to cross-cultural exchanges and adaptations as Zoroastrians carried their ancient wisdom of conservation of water from Persia to India to live in India. We invite you to explore these resources and participate in our endeavor to give social, cultural, and technical attention to Zoroastrian philosophy and practices of sustainability and water conservation.
Resources
Development Alternatives: Dying Wisdom
By Centre for Science and Environment (PDF)
A Zoroastrian view on conservation of natural elements: Tankas of Bharuch - Paper presented by Dr. Kavas Kapadia and Dr. Shernaz Cama in Salisbury (PDF)
Ava- A living tradition, published in Knowledge and the Indian Ocean, ed. by Sara Keller (PDF)
Ava: Water in Zoroastrian Life: Google Culture Exhibition
Tanka: Water Harvesting System of the Parsi Community (Film)