Thanks to the largesse of Dhanjishaw Avari, the Bilimora Parsi Anjuman Trust Funds (BPATF) will purchase a property adjacent to their Dadabhai Dhanjibhai and Sorabji Shapurji Gabba Daremeher and build a new community hall on the ground floor, with four air-conditioned rooms with attached toilet and bathrooms on the upper floor, wrote BPATF managing trustee Marazban Baria in a note to Parsiana.
"The property belonged to the Dandiwala family and they (had) decided to sell it… In response, the trustees of BPATF… unanimously decided to purchase the property, recognizing its importance to the community and the need to protect the religious sanctity of the fire temple.”
Top: Gabba Daremeher with adjoining property slated for community use;
above from l: Coomi, Cyrus and Dhanjishaw Avari
Avari "donated Rs 58 lakhs to purchase the property in memory of his late wife, Coomi and their late son Cyrus,” noted Baria, and "graciously agreed to donate further funds for the construction of the new structure… His generosity is a testament to the spirit of the Parsi community,” Baria stated. They hope the "project will serve as an inspiration to others and continue to promote the values of community, generosity and compassion.” The trustees have decided to demolish the old structure. "This project will allow small Parsi functions to be held and provide accommodation for Parsi visitors to the area,” Baria stated.
Dhanjishaw told Parsiana on February 26, 2023 that Coomi was a teacher at St Joseph’s High School in Bombay from 1961 to 1998. After her retirement, the Avaris, originally from Navsari, moved to Bilimora where Dhanjishaw set up a subcontracting engineering unit which he managed till 2004. Coomi passed away in July 2022 at age 84. Cyrus, their only son, had passed away in a motor cycle accident at age 20 in 1991. Dhanjishaw has been a trustee at BPATF since 2007 and is currently serving a third term. Homiyar Medhora and Zubin Balsara complete the quartet of trustees of the Anjuman.
The fire temple’s panthaky "is Ervad Kurush Sidhwa… Ervad Pirojsha Karanjia is the assistant priest…All five bois are performed regularly… Every year there are 15 muktad tables,” Baria told Parsiana. The fire temple sees five to seven visitors daily, "but the number increases on select rozs.” The fire temple building also houses an older dadgah.
Researcher Marzban Giara wrote in his Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples that the dadgah was built in 1828 by one Navroji Wadia. Two cousins, Dadabhai and Sorabji, constructed the new place of worship at a cost of Rs 23,000 on land purchased by the Anjuman and also contributed Rs 7,000 towards a maintenance fund. The fire temple was consecrated in May 1899.
About 150 community members reside in Bilimora, Baria notes.
Dhanjishaw and Baria also serve as trustees of the Bilimora Parsi Zoroastrian Club. There are no activities at the Club currently. Baria stated that a few years ago when there was a sizeable population, there would be regular events, including sports.