The infirm and the young celebrated Christmas together with gifts given as per their needs and wishes, noted an email from Delnaz Katpitia, president of the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat (ZWAS). The elderly of the Nariman Home (infirmary) were treated to snacks and cake during their tea time on December 22, 2019. "Every inmate was given a gift individually as per their needs,” she noted. ZWAS members sang Christmas carols for the inmates "which they enjoyed a lot.” On Christmas Day, the young residents of the Surat Parsi Orphanage (for boys) and Nariman Parsi Girls’ Orphanage celebrated the festival with the ZWAS members at Tamna ni Dharamshala. Games, gifts, "again as per the wishes of the child,” were distributed. The children and young adults were served a Chinese meal along with sweets and pizza.
Members of the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat celebrating
Christmas with children; inset: Delnaz Katpitia
Katpitia noted that these activities of ZWAS were possible on account of a generous donation mobilized by the social service committee of the Assembly under the leadership of Gulshan Master. She was thankful to the Surat Parsi Panchayat "for giving us permission to conduct these programs with the inmates and children.” The Nanapura Zarthosti Anjuman allowed the usage of the Dharamshala premises free of cost, she said. Hoshang Hilluwala provided transport for the children to and from their institutions.
As per the sixth Directory of the Zoroastrian Residents of Surat 2019 (see "Surat population down five percent,” Parsiana, October 21-November 6, 2019) published by ZWAS, the 30 inmates (both male and female) of the Nariman Home range in age from 52 to 87. Twenty-two residents from nine to 26 years live at the Surat Parsi Orphanage, while the 39 girls in the Nariman Parsi Girls’ Orphanage range in age from four to 20.