I would like to draw the attention of readers to the fact that Parsi dharamshalas were built across India for the benefit of Parsis, primarily for cheap accommodation while travelling across the country. There are so many listed on the websites, but their very existence has long been forgotten. In fact, one is surprised to learn that we have dharamshalas in Mt Abu, Agra and Panchgani.
Most of us would only be aware that Gujarat and Bombay have dharamshalas where the poor or sick reside, but that’s not true. There are many Parsi cottages and blocks which have old-world charm and are nestled on picturesque locations across the country too. These rest houses, cottages and dharamshalas are old and forgotten and the only way we can stop them from becoming extinct is by bringing them into the limelight.
Given that Parsiana has a wide readership across the globe, it would be great if an article on these dharamshalas could be published with a tabled list of their latest telephone numbers (with area codes) and addresses to create awareness amongst the community and also help the dharamshalas earn some revenue with increasing footfalls as more Zoroastrians would be enabled to spend family vacations, organize school community camps or have one-day picnics, travel stop-overs and trips for Holiday Programme for Youth, Xtremely Young Zoroastrians, etc.
These internet links have details of dharamshalas: http://www.pzash.org/parsi-dharamshalas and https://zoroastrians.net/third-page/
ARMINE M. BHARUCHA
armine_298@hotmail.com
The editors reply:
Parsiana is not equipped to undertake such an undertaking. Earlier, author Marzban Giara had compiled a book listing the dharamshalas in India.