To thank the district authorities for sanctioning a budget for tarring the road leading to their defunct Doongerwadi, the Shree Mahuva Parsi Anjuman felicitated Jinesh Bhavsar, chairman, healthcare committee of Surat district panchayat at a function that marked the 112th salgirah of their Ardeshar Bhikhaji Patel fire temple (dadgah) on October 1, 2022, notes an email sent to Parsiana by Anjuman president Hosi Bajina. Mahuva is approximately a 30-minute drive from Navsari and has only one Parsi family residing there permanently. Their Doongerwadi lands are used to grow bawal and sandalwood, with assistance from the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trusts (see "Vansda revisited,” pg 27).
Top: Mahuva’s Ardeshar Bhikhaji Patel fire temple;
above: Dr Hoshang Mogal (r) felicitating Jinesh Bhavsar
About 80 community members were present for the event that drew participants who had migrated to larger cities. A jashan was performed by Ervads Firdosh Karkaria and Keki Dastoor of the Malesar Behdin Anjuman, noted Bajina’s email. Riya Bacha and Jehan Dumlavwalla were felicitated for their scholastic achievements. Jehan’s award was collected by his mother, Silloo.
Bhavsar and Hitesh Naik, president of Mahuva taluka’s Bharatiya Janata Party were also felicitated by trustees Rohinton Mogal and Kali Besania. Trustee Dr Hoshang Mogal spoke on the opportunities available for the youth in higher education. He thanked Shehan Bajina for preparing certificates of honor for the achievers. Lunch was catered by Soonu Kasad of Navsari.