Jashans were held on Shahrevar mah, Dae-pa-Adar roz on January 21, 2017 at the Seth Meherwanji Navroji Maneckji Dar-e-meher in Daman to mark the 179th salgireh of the agiary by the Parsis of Daman and Vapi. Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, vada dastur of Udvada and Ervad Noshir Sahiar, panthaky of the Daman Dar-e-meher, presided over the jashan offered by the fire temple’s trustees, and Ervads Zarir and Eric Dastoor, both from Udvada, prayed on behalf of Tehmten Wadia, president of the Shree Daman Vapi Parsi Jarthosty Anjuman (SDVPJA).
In his opening address, Wadia informed the gathering that urgent repairs were required for the dakhma and Doongerwadi that serve Parsis of Daman and Vapi. Rohinton Merchant, secretary of the Anjuman, stated that the wall surrounding the 18 acres of Doongerwadi needed to be rebuilt, and there were other minor repairs to be undertaken as well. The estimated expense is Rs 35,00,000, of which Rs 15,00,000 have already been collected from June 2016 to date. The SDVPJA is hoping to start work soon. A bhoomi pooja was performed on the morning of February 2, 2017, Bahram roz, Shahrevar mah, "so that our work goes smoothly and free from hindrances.” This was considered necessary "since we are starting a fresh compound wall and we Parsis worship forces of nature (with) land being one of them,” responded Wadia on February 2 to our email.
At the salgireh function, while acknowledging the mutual cooperation that exists between Udvada and Daman, Dastoor pointed out the difficulties encountered in taking care of dadgahs and termed such work as being "poon nu kaam (meritorious work).” He added that it was "very difficult to look after the fire with poor funds and no kathi (wood offered to fire).” In fact it was through Zarir Dastoor’s good offices that five tons of kathi were donated to the Daman Dar-e-meher by the Rustom Faramna Agiary in Dadar, Bombay. The high priest mentioned how in 1990 when Dadiba Unwala was single-handedly tending the fire in Daman, priests from Udvada would help out when prayers needed to be said for a ruvan. Similarly, khandhias from Daman were sent to Udvada when deaths occurred in that town. In fact, there are no paid khandhias in Daman and volunteers undertake the task.
Aspi Damania, an executive committee member, proposed the vote of thanks and shawls were presented to all on the dais.
Established in 1838, The Dar-e-meher was renovated in January 2000 at which time the old nariyan nu chhapru (Mangalore tiled roof) was replaced with the present modern concrete structure. Catering to about 200 local Parsis today, the Dar-e-Meher was served by the Unwala family for four generations for a total of 156 years, notes Marzban Giara in his book Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples.
Dastoor praised the dedication of Ervads Hormusji Unwala and his son Dadiba whose family served for a cumulative period of 135 years. Sahiar, the current panthaky, has been in charge for the past 20 years.
Built when Daman was under Portuguese rule (which lasted for over 450 years), the Dar-e-meher, still sports a marble tablet in
Portuguese (pictured) at the entrance, indicating "no admission to non-Parsis.” One Parsi lady married to a non Parsi, was denied admission over a decade ago but the trustees state they have not encountered any controversy over outmarried Parsi women entering the Dar-e-meher.
Merchant informed Parsiana that a new constitution for the SDVPJA was instituted in 1991. The old one, in Gujarati, "was chalked out in the old way,” he explained. Some of the salient changes include an age limit for trustees, from 25 to 70 years; it also stipulates that all trustees should be domiciled either in Daman or in Vapi.
The salgireh celebrations culminated in a gahanbar at which MEK Caterers served guests sev, fish fillet, sali ma gosh, vegetable pulao-dar and ice cream in cups. Chicken was conspicuous by its absence as there had been a local bird flu scare and caution overruled indulgence! Second helpings were generously offered at the gahanbar. While the diners numbered 230, the jashan was attended by about 70, the felicitation function by about 100. The cost of the gahanbar was covered partly by contributions, with the shortfall being borne by the six attending executive committee members — Wadia; Merchant; Ardish Vapiwala, vice president; Homiar Damania (treasurer); Aspi Damania and Zarir Dadrewala. Trustee Homai Engineer was unable to attend.
Contributions by cheque favoring "Shree Daman Vapi Parsi Jarthosty Anjuman,” may be sent to Wadia at Daman Dar-e-meher, Navi Ori, Nani Daman 396210; mob: +91 9824182004; email: to
sdvpja@gmail.com