Located in the bylanes of Khetwadi in the heart of the old city, the once neglected Seth Cowasji Maneckji Ashburnerni-Kadmi Daremeher has undergone a structural transformation. A jashan was held in the morning of February 15, 2013 to mark the near completion of repairs to the 180-year-old fire temple. The adarian was consecrated on May 7, 1832.
Over Rs 30 lakhs were spent to repair the building, the roof, the compound walls and adjacent structures. A large tree had grown through the compound wall, the roof had not been touched for decades and a portion of the premises was on the verge of collapse, explains trustee Saroosh Dinshaw. The earlier dilapidated state of the fire temple had caused readers to write to Parsiana complaining about the structure’s condition.
With the assistance of architect Sorab Ginwalla and contractor Zubin Lakdawalla, repairs began around a year ago. "I have never seen the agiary look as beautiful and bright as I saw it on that day,” said Dinshaw.
The main sponsor of the repairs was the Cowasjee Dinshaw Trust while the Bai Soonabai Hirji Agiary Trust also helped with funds. Gev Bhumgara, chief executive officer of the latter has been asked to assist in handling the cosmopolitan, commercial tenants of the Ashburner Trust which encompasses a building on the right and three shops on the left in addition to one or two shops in a godown on the premises. Dinshaw observes that the commercial tenants on the premises may have changed over the years but the Trust is not always aware or informed about the changes.
"We received a lot of help from individuals and trusts for the kathi expenses,” said Dinshaw. Hanoz and Zubin Patel of Powerpushers and Farokh Todywalla and his sister Jeroo also assist financially.
Present at the jashan were a handful of invitees including trustees Dinshaw, Dr Sorab Javeri (chairman), Vispi Dastur and Delara Jejeebhoy. Behram Sethna and Freny Jehangir are the other two trustees.
"Access to the agiary is our biggest problem,” said Dinshaw. "How do we get people (to come) back?” The number of muktad tables has declined over the years. The trustees intend to hold one or two jashans every year. Anyone not familiar with the area would find it difficult to locate the agiary.
As the agiary has virtually no income from worshippers, the acting panthaky Kersi Khambatta is paid a salary. He is assisted by chasniwallas Mehernosh Mistry, Rusi Mandvivala and Bhikoo Karkaria. The monthly salary bill for the fire temple is over Rs 35,000, says Dinshaw. "The budget is not balanced,” he notes, observing the need to augment income. A premise has been given on leave and license to Todywalla which ensures a regular income.
While structurally the agiary has been restored, the aesthetics still need to be worked on. The tiles on the first floor of the agiary are unpolished but decorative but the ones on the ground floor comprise ladis (polished stone). Dinshaw notes that earlier renovations were done on a shoestring budget. He is now keen to restore the stained glass windows that grace the fire temple’s facade.
On the day of the jashan one of the priests recruited from another agiary to pray objected to Parsiana taking photographs of the unconsecrated jashan fire. When told that such fires are routinely photographed — even when high priests are present — the priest dismissed the precedents claiming that the high priests had compromised their religious values long ago.