Zoroastrian Return to Roots Participants experience the MUYA Virtual Reality Taster, India March 6-2

Ruzbeh Hodiwala, a doctoral student of Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) – University of London showcased MUYA’s Virtual Reality (VR) initiative during the Zoroastrian Return to Roots Tour in India from March 6-21, 2020. The Zoroastrian Return to Roots tour is a two-week programme curated for the young Zoroastrians living in the diaspora to connect them with their cultural roots in India. The tour was attended by 23 participants from North America, Europe, Pakistan, and India. Ruzbeh carried a 360° VR headset with the preloaded 4-minute film to India for the purpose. Since the majority of the participants were visiting India for the first time, especially with the intent to introduce themselves to their roots, the VR turned out to be a unique opportunity for them to experience the now endangered ritual practice which is only performed in India. Almost all the participants said that they knew nothing or very little about the Yasna ritual before their VR experience.