The participation of members of all communities was welcomed in a program to celebrate Jamshedi Navroz organized by The Parsi Food and Trade Festival and the D. D. Mehta Memorial Trust at Allbless Baug on March 21, 2012. The 17th Navroz Dhamaka began with a morning jashan by young priests from the Banaji Limji Agiary in Bombay’s Fort area. Diniar Mehta and his wife Shiraz, along with committee members Ghaver Reader, Hutoxi Aibara, Khorshed Kalyaniwala, Jerry Kumana, Nawaz Marker, Roxana Nicholson and Minoo Nalawala organized the event, mentions a write-up sent to Parsiana by Mehta.
Entertainment at Allblesss Baug. Below: winners of the Darabshaw Achievement Awards with trustees of D. D. Mehta Memorial Trust and sponsors
That evening the Darabshaw Achievement Awards of The D. D. Mehta Memorial Trust were presented by chief guest Makarand Narvekar, municipal corporator, to meritorious Zoroastrians. Retired Justice Bahram Shethna of the Gujarat High Court, oncologist Dr Boman Dhabhar, trap shooter Jahanbaksh Bamji, ophthalmologist Dr Cyres Keiki Mehta, chef Shahzad Variava, young priest Ervad Sheherazad Rohinton Pavri, musician Silloo Shapoorjee, gynecologist Dr Zarrin Langdana, educationist Gool Ghadiali, orthopedic surgeon Dr Jamshed Bunshah and founder chairman of Kelvinator of India and presently chairman and managing director of Tropicana Enterprises Jamshed Desai were the recipients this year, mentions the write-up.
The evening’s entertainment program comprised songs, music, dance, various competitions and games arranged by Jenesis and compered by Jennifer Dinshaw and Jarir Debara. The best gara prize, a silver asho farohar pendant from Pransukhlal Jewelers, was won by Zenobia Batliwala. Some of the garas seen there were over a century old and valued at up to rupees two lakh each. The show was sponsored by World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis and co-sponsored and supported by Avan Foods and Flavours, Dark Temptations, Crown Foods, Pransukhlal Jewelers, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Private Limited, Horseland Hotel and Mountain Spa of Matheran and Corn-Agro Foods.
A display of the latest Volkswagen Downtown Vento and Polo cars by Shaman Motors and Tata Nano and Arya cars by Tata Motors attracted viewers. But the highlight of the evening was the typical Parsi feast on banana leaves catered by Tanaz Godiwalla which was enjoyed by all, especially members of other communities who do not have the opportunity to indulge in such fare on a regular basis. The program ended with the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti.