Over two hot summer days a 16-member all-male team from Poona and Bombay cleaned the Poona Anjuman dakhma. "There were nine volunteers led by Cyrus Siganporia who was the project in charge from Bombay, and seven volunteers from Poona led by Cyrus Bacha,” stated Poona Parsi Panchayat (PPP) chairman Tehmasp Bharucha. "On behalf of PPP, the project was handled and coordinated by two of our trustees Bakhtiar Narielwala and Sarosh Mistry.” Bombay Doongerwadi manager Vistaspar Mehta assisted. Poona resident Mabrin Nanavatty provided meals for the volunteers. "WE-7 (the trustees of the Poona Parsi Panchayat) salute the dedication, sincerity and involvement and wish to convey a thank you,” noted Bharucha.
Clockwise from above l: Poona dakhma; entrance to Doongerwadi; volunteers
"I just wanted to be there, meet them and congratulate them on behalf of all humdins so that they know how deeply we Parsis appreciate the fantastic job they are doing for us,” Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Dr Adil Malia told Parsiana. Volunteers from Poona were Hoshi Gocal, Framroze Taraporwalla, Hormuz Pundole, Xerxes Nekoo, Rustom Mistry, Shabehram Irani and Sarosh D. Mistry. Those from Bombay comprised Cyrus Siganporia, Danesh Nejadkay, Homi Boga, Kurush Bastani, Ervad Shahrukh Govadia, Shaarookh Wadia, Hosi Tampal, Arzan Patel and Mehta. "They are our heroes.”