The Zoroastrian Sunday school, initiated by the Poona Zarthosti Seva Mandal (PZSM) on May 26, 2013, attracted 26 registrations on the very first day from enthusiastic parents for their children. As of June 22 the number of children registered had risen to 58 with many additional parents inquiring about the project. At Rs 50 per child per month, it’s a boon for young Zoroastrians of Poona, reveals Mabrin Nanavatti, joint honorary secretary of the Mandal in an email sent to Parsiana. "Our main purpose of initiating these classes was to give our children basic information of our religion and bring them on a platform (where they can) make Parsi friends,” he wrote.
(Top): Roshan Chindhy (ext l) cuts ribbon; (above) Sunday school in Poona
A steady stream of children attends the classes which are run by priests and volunteers on an honorary basis. The young ones are taught prayers and monajats; 15 minutes are dedicated to teaching them the Gujarati script. There are storytelling sessions and games to keep the youngsters interested. The Mandal provides stationery and refreshments, the latter sourced from the Mandal’s own eatery located on the ground floor of its premises on Mahatma Gandhi Road. The classes are conducted by Arzaan Khambata, a priest at the Kadmi and Shehenshai Anjuman Dar-e-Meher. "Prayers are not only for non-initiated children but for kids who have undergone the navjote ceremony but pronounce the words incorrectly,” the priest reveals.
The PZSM, established in 1940, has been involved with the upliftment of underprivileged members of the community by way of medical, education and monthly financial help. Nanavatti writes that the Mandal would be happy to receive donations. Cheques made out in the name of the "Poona Zarthosti Seva Mandal,” specifying for which cause they should be used (education, medical, dole, Sunday school), may be sent to the Mandal at 12 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Poona 411001. For further information, the following office bearers may be contacted: president Rukhshana Anklesaria (9823027695), honorary treasurer Roshan Chindhy (9823090096) or Nanavatti (9822000433)