Billionaire vaccine manufacturer and stud farm owner Dr Cyrus Poonawalla will be sponsoring the Iranshah Udvada Utsav to be held from December 25 to 27, 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the venue and then be on stage at the Gymkhana Grounds on the final day where high priest of Udvada, Dastur Khurshed Dastoor will welcome him. Modi, who will deliver the keynote address will also be felicitated by various associations. This will be followed by a gahanbar lunch for the congregation, reveals the program for the event.
Dr Cyrus Poonawalla: billionaire benefactor
The Utsav, an initiative of the Foundation for Development of Udvada (FDU) along with the Udvada Samast Anjuman, promises many interesting activities, including nataks by Yazdi Karanjia and the late Adi Marzban, music ranging from monajats to karaoke, a vintage car rally, heritage walks guided by architect Jamshed Bhivandiwala, religion educator Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia and former Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Noshir Dadrawala. A treasure hunt by XYZ (Xtremely Young Zoroastrians) will be open to people of all ages while talent from all over the country will perform in the entertainment provided by ZYNG (Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation).
Among the more serious activities are workshops and presentations on the correct way in which to perform the kusti prayers; drape a sari; set a Navroz table; arrange a ses; traditional wear; Parsi cookery and an exhibition on Zoroastrian history at the FDU Museum.
When Parsiana posted the news of Poonawalla’s benevolence on Facebook and its website, the item was viewed by 13,309, received three or four likes and elicited a flurry of comments appreciative of his generosity, many of them saying "God bless you…”