Film: Tanka - The Water Harvesting System of the Parsi Community

In Zoroastrianism ecological consciousness is part of both religion and culture. While Fire is seen as a symbol of wisdom and a path to the divine, water preserves life on earth and makes it Spenta, beneficent to all creation. In the cold deserts of Central Asia, these were the elements necessary to sustain life. Melting snow was brought through an elaborate underground water system -the Qunat to help agriculture, man, and animals.

Between 1999 and 2001, Parzor did extensive field recordings around Gujarat. At Bharuch, the Project stumbled upon the Tanka system of water harvesting which is still functional in a few houses. Continuity in this tradition of - wide network of canals called Ghanat/ Qunat or kariz from Iran is observed in the Tanka system of Gujarat. While Gujarat is famous for its step wells and baolis, these are systems of gathering water. The video explores the functioning of this system discovered by Parzor in Bharuch. Three experts in the field lend their knowledge in the film: Professor Kavas Kapadia of the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi; Mr. Rohinton Jambusarwala, in whose house, Gulshan, the largest tanka found during Parzor surveys in Bharuch is located at; and Mobed Mehraban Firouzgary of Iran.

Parzor documentary in collaboration with Sahapedia on the Tanka system of the Parsi community.