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The 176th salgirah celebration of Cusrow Baug’s Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary (pictured) on February 1, 2023, roz Behram mah Sheherevar, was an occasion to recall "past sacrifices” of early Zoroastrian migrants to India and reiterate Parsipanu.
The chief guest, former Bombay High Court Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla, noted that it is "very vital” to follow the diktats of our Zarathushti religion and remain loyal to it in every way. He recalled the efforts of the late panthaky Ervad Nadarsha Aibara in providing spiritual help to the laity and now of his wife Nergishbanoo who does the same. Their son Ervad Yazdi is the current panthaky of the Agiary.
Introducing Kathawalla, agiary trustee Homi Ranina complimented him for his charitable nature. Ranina stressed that there is no need for youngsters to leave India and seek better prospects abroad, for now India is emerging as a global power. "It is only here in India, that we can preserve our agiaries and atash behrams,” he noted. A write-up on the event was sent to Parsiana by the fire temple’s managing trustee Bomi Hansotia. 

In his talk titled "From Iran to India… But for the Faith and Unity,” the main speaker Ervad (Dr) Pervez Bajan reminisced about the Persian Empire during the time of Cyrus the Great, the different Persian dynasties and then explained in detail the exodus of Zarathushtis. "They did not think twice before leaving their wealth behind, so that they could follow their Zarathushti religion.” The myth of sugar-in-the-milk was reiterated. A monajat recital by his daughter Navaz Bajan followed.
Hansotia offered floral tributes and shawls to Kathawalla and Ervad Pervez Bajan. "It is the duty of all Zoroastrians to remember and appreciate the efforts of (the first migrants to India)… Zoroastrians have not only progressed and flourished in India but also assimilated and given their best in the progress of India,” noted the managing trustee.
The panthaky stressed that all parents should focus on teaching prayers and giving knowledge of the principles of the religion to their children from an early age "so that when they grow up, they have a very strong feeling of Zarthushtipanu in their hearts, and they will never want to marry outside their own faith and religion.” Trustee Percy Siganporia spoke about the Agiary fire and gave a brief history of ancient Parsi textiles and weaving methods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Two stalwarts of Cusrow Baug” were felicitated by Hansotia: Hoshaang Gotla for arranging monthly jashans at the Bhikha Behram Well as well as for leading the children’s group XYZ (Xtremely Young Zoroastrians) and Mani Mody for conducting sewing classes in the colony without remuneration. Children who were present were gifted a commemorative silver coin each.
At the start of the evening, the attendees offered homage to departed souls of the Wadia and Karani families, senior priest Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Yazdi Desai and prominent Cusrow Baug resident, a longtime supporter of the Agiary, Mani Vajifdar. Ranina and Hansotia presented floral tributes to Jam-e-Jamshed editor Shernaaz Engineer, Bajan’s wife Bepsy, BPP trustees Xerxes Dastur and Hoshang Jal, and to Cmde Aspi Marker (retd). "A special thanks to Khurshed Vajifdar and Bomsi Tavaria for taking photos of our function selflessly every year,” stated Hansotia’s note.
A Havan gah machi was offered and a hama anjuman jashan was led by Ervad Yazdi in the morning while his son Ervad Farhad led the one in the evening. Built in 1847 by Nusserwanji Hirjibhai Hodidalal in memory of his late daughters Bhikhaiji and Avabai, the Agiary was located in Nizam Street at Null Bazar, writes researcher Marzban Giara in his book, Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples. The Agiary building in Cusrow Baug was constructed in 1935.               F. J.