Community members are pleased to note that certain areas of our priceless Doongerwadi estate are being renovated after a long period. Credit is due to the facilitators and trustees for taking interest in the renovation and to the donors for supporting the worthy cause. It pleases one to see the sparkling newly renovated areas. It was painful to watch the place before that — unswept, neglected and dirty. It is important that the newly renovated areas be well maintained. The renovated nahan area for the pallbearers is welcome but it will not change the prevailing working conditions in the dakhmas. Though the dead do not feel the pain, the pallbearers are affected.
The newly renovated nahan area for pallbearers at Doongerwadi
The most important places at Doongerwadi are the dakhmas where the dead bodies of our dear departed ones are consigned for disposal. It is important that these are well taken care of. When the trustees and members of the community visited Doongerwadi for the inauguration of the renovated areas, they should have visited the dakhmas from inside to ascertain that the bodies of our dear departed ones are not neglected.
Even before the dakhmas were built, burial was a practiced in our community. Wherever dakhmas did not exist, people established aramgahs where community corpses were laid to rest with traditional Zoroastrian rituals, prayers and ceremonies. Thanks to our visionary ancestors, we have over 55 acres of beautiful hill garden at Doongerwadi which could easily be utilized to establish an aramgah. This will end all conflicts in the community. Denying prayers is the real cause of the conflict that has brought the gentle, peace loving community and our noble religion shame.
If they had a better choice, people would not have opted for cremation and lost out on the serene soul soothing atmosphere of Doongerwadi. Several community members who opt for the old method do so not because they are happy with it, but because they do not want to deprive their dear ones of the peaceful environment and the traditional rituals, prayers and ceremonies offered to the dead at Doongerwadi.
When we are renovating the physical structure of the place, let us also cleanse our hearts of pettiness, remove the garbage of spite, hatred and arrogance, paint with the color of love and compassion, and polish with the luster of humility. Let us pray with love and devotion not only to purify our hearts of passions, but to bring us everlasting peace and joy!
PIROJA HOMI JOKHI
piroja.jokhi@gmail.com