"An unprecedented turnout at any Parsi affair,” is how Mahiyar Dastoor, trustee of the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust refers to the nearly 3,500 guests who participated in the 37th edition of the Festival of Spring Jamshedi Navroz gahanbar organized by the Trust.
The function at the Dadar Parsee Colony Gymkhana grounds on March 21, 2017 began with a welcome song by the children of the Dharmagyan class conducted by Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia. A welcome to chief guest Dr Pheroza Godrej and guest of honor Dr Tehemton Udwadia followed, with awards presented to them by the chairman of the Trust, Dinyar Panthaki for outstanding contributions in their respective fields.
From left, top row: Dr Pheroza Godrej, Dr Tehemton Udwadia, Diana Marfatia, Shahrokh Bagli, Farhad Tengra;
2nd row: Zubin Karkaria, Khurshed Daruvala, Ervads Eric Dastur, Kaizad Kotwal, Pervez Pavri;
3rd row: Dinyar Panthaki, Nasha Jassawalla, Mahiyar Dastoor, Arnavaz Mistry Photos: Rehan Daruwalla
Clockwise from top left: Singers Zyra Nargolwala, Delraaz Bunshah,
Khurshed Mogrelia and Sarosh Nanavaty; entertainers Photos: Rehan Daruwalla
This year, special awards were presented to educationist Diana Marfatia, snooker and billiards player Farhad Tengra and geo-synthetics expert Shahrokh Bagli. The year’s "Jal Mistry Memorial Award for the Outstanding Colonyite” was awarded to Zubin Karkaria, chief executive officer of VFS Global, while teenage motor racing champion Jehan Daruvala was given the Kavina Karkaria Award 2017 for the most promising colony youngster (in absentia, received by his father Khurshed). The Rustom Faramna Agiary Awards 2017 for excellence in mobedi was presented to Ervad Eric Dastur and overall excellence award (studies and prayers) to Ervad Kaizad Kotwal, both ex-students of the Dadar Athornan Institute. Ervad Pervez Pavri was felicitated for 60 years of service to the Agiary. The Rohinton Chinoy Awards, instituted by Union Press for excellence in academics and sports were presented to outstanding colony residents and others.
Spring Bonanza 2017, a dance and music show was kicked off with a Bollywood dance number, choreographed by Sunil Rao and directed by Arnaaz Irani, followed by singers Sarosh Nanavaty, Delraaz Bunshah, Khurshed Mogrelia and Zyra Nargolwala. The singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti and the national anthem brought an end to the show. Tanaz Godiwala along with Subash Talwar catered for the dinner that followed. The popular event had over a dozen sponsors lending their support.
Festivities had begun three weeks earlier with competitions being conducted over the weekends for children and adults; including a musical evening, a "Khao Masoor Pav” eating contest and a gara raffle. Proceeds from the events are used for building houses for needy Parsi farmers every year in the interior of Gujarat through the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust.