Zoroastrianism is not a badge to be worn on one’s sleeve but a way of life, with practice of the virtues mentioned in the scriptures, noted Ervad (Dr) Parvez Bajan, panthaky of Byculla’s Bomanji Merwanji Mevawala Agiary at the 145th salgirah celebrations of the fire temple on April 30, 2019 (roz Srosh, mah Adar). The religion binds the community, he stated, while exhorting the 100 or so community members assembled at the fire temple to "understand the meaning” of prayers. A note on the event was received by Parsiana from Bajan, who performed a jashan on behalf of the trustees that morning, after a Havan gah machi. The panthaky also led a jashan in the evening on behalf of well-wishers and residents of Byculla. Newly inducted trustees Vispi Mistry and Feroze Sethna were present on the occasion.
Clockwise from above (l): Jashan in progress; Mevawala Agiary a-lit; Dr Hozie Kapadia with
Ervads (Dr) Parvez Bajan and Darayus Bajan; chalk decoration; congregation Photos: Farokh Mojia
Chief guest of the evening, Dr Hozie Kapadia urged community youngsters to take up medicine as a profession. Kapadia, who has recently been elected president of the Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra state, has been in practice for 47 years, noted Bajan. Monajats were rendered by Ervad Jamshed Kotwal and Marazban Wadia while Dr Hutoxi Zaroliwalla gave a short talk on the Sasanian religious text, Handarz, written by Dastur Adarbad Marespand.
Bajan’s vote of thanks included the Agiary’s priests, as well as Burjor Mistry, a senior community member who takes a keen interest in the maintenance of the Agiary well, and other service providers.
Researcher Marzban Giara notes in Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples that the Agiary was originally consecrated in 1851 in the Bhendi Bazaar area. On February 13, 1874, rioters had entered the building and desecrated it. The fire was re-consecrated and enthroned on roz Srosh, mah Adar in 1875 at the same place.
When the Parsi population in the Bhendi Bazaar neighborhood declined, Giara noted that the dar-e-meher building was sold after the necessary legal permissions were obtained and the fire moved to the current premises in Byculla in 1914. Bajan told Parsiana on May 27 that there is nothing wrong in moving consecrated fires (from areas with diminishing Parsi populations, for example). "We do have knowledgeable priests even today who are capable of moving these fires from one place to another with full observance of religious rituals… their services must be used.”