Sixty-three children and youths displayed their talents in dancing, singing, prayers, drama, pyramids at the talent show or-ganized by the Parsi Pragati Mandal of Surat on Khordadsal. On the eve of its diamond jubilee the Mandal president Rusi Besania and vice president Noshir Dabhoiwala presented a shawl and flowers to its founder member, 85-year-old Nariman R. Vakil. As per their annual practice scholarships of Rs 35,000 were given to academic achievers. The prizes were distributed by chief guest Darayas Master, president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat.
Felicitations on behalf of the Mandal were also accorded to Ervad Noshirwan Turel for completing 101 nirangdins, to well-known dentist Dr Firoz Khandhadia who had won the Bharat Jyoti award, to Behroze Daruwala whose spirit of adventure had won her the Gujarat Nari Ratna Award, and budding table tennis champion Arzan Varachhawala and athlete Kaizad Bhathena.
At the New Year function organized by the Pragati Mandal at Hotel Holiday Inn, 300 young Parsi boys and girls dined and danced with enthusiasm and enjoyment, mentions the report by honorary secretaries Parizad Chipia and Armin Rao. On the first Gatha, a slide show by Marzban Giara on Parsi statues "made us all proud of our rich heritage.” Besides the office bearers, several members of the Mandal worked cohesively to ensure the success of the programs.
The five Gatha days preceding the New Year are an occasion for "celebration, for rejuvenation...and for spreading the grandeur,” of the festive spirit, notes a write-up by Dilnaz Kharadi of the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat (ZWAS) which organized a series of events in August 2004 to bring the Surat Parsi community together.
Top left: Active ZWAS members with Master, judges and prize winners of the prayer, antakshari (bottom left) and rangoli competitions
The Gatha festival commenced on August 13, 2004 with a prayer recitation competition judged by Ervads Kobad Bharda and Harvesp Sanjana when the president of the Surat Parsi Panchayat Darayas Master was the chief guest. "Apt knowledge and correct methodology of reciting Avesta prayers is the essence of Parsidom,” wrote Kharadi. In the four to six year age-group Pizan Bhatporia was the winner, in the seven to 10 age-group Farzad Patel, and in the 11 to 15 age-group, Pirzad Gandhi. The next day was music time when the three teams, Sev, Ravo and Malido competed in the Antakshari rounds in the presence of guests Marzban Giara, Rusi Besania and Yazdi Karanjia. The winners were Firdosh Dadina, Roshni Turel and Mahtab Variava. Also felicitated that evening were Behroze Daruwala and Delnaz Wadia for their contribution in the fields of sports, social service and literature. On August 15, Avesta book decoration, card making, rangoli and chalk competitions were organized simultaneously and judged by Gulshan Chiniwala, Freny Pooniwala and Gool Kapadia. On the last day of the celebration on August 17, games and prizes as also food stalls ensured it was a "fun day” for the participants. The evening was anchored by Benaifer Engineer, Anahita Mistry and Pearl Dabu.
Far left and below: Principal office bearers, organizers and the winning team at Parsi Pragati Mandal’s festivities; Besania (right) and Dabhoiwala honor Vakil
The ZWAS headed by Kainaz Kapadia as president, Engineer as secretary, Piloo Bhathena as treasurer cum trustee with Maharukh Chichgar serving as founder trustee ensures that in addition to entertainment the members are also occupied with meaningful work. In keeping with their philosophy special help was extended to those stranded in the low-lying areas of Gujarat due to heavy rains.