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At the fourth Iranshah Udvada Utsav (IUU) held at the south Gujarat coastal town from December 27 to 29, 2024 the media shy real estate billionaire, Shapoor Mistry, chairman of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, thanked "all the Zoroastrians and non-Zoroastrians who worked tirelessly for the renovation of the atash behram who came together to support us.” 

Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, one of the two high priests of Udvada, recalled how he had approached Mistry to undertake the restoration of the building. "Without a blink Shapoor said it will be done by me and I will take care of it. Not a single ‘No’ was uttered by the Mistry group.” The high priest told the gathering that the Mistrys had given the Iranshah building another 150 years of life. 

An ambulance service was inaugurated for Udvada on the occasion of the Utsav. The three-day Utsav was supported by the Gujarat tourism department as well as the government of Gujarat. The organization was undertaken by the Foundation for Development of Udvada (FDU) formed in 2003 at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was then the chief minister of Gujarat. 

Zarine Commissariat who had compered the two earlier Utsavs termed the arrangements for the festival "excellent.” The speakers were good as were the performances. The dances were "acceptable… there were no bikinis!” She noted all the accommodation in the coastal village had been booked. The Parsi crowd however was less than earlier but more locals attended. 

Aarish Daruwalla, whose family concern Mazda Events oversaw the entire programs, praised the arrangements and organization. Compere Viraf Patel said the three-day event comprised "all themes Parsi.” 

Hoshaang Gotla, who is involved with the organization of the Utsav, stated the crowds were fewer because of the roads and other issues but termed the overall quality of the event as "fantastic.” Holding the event after a five-year hiatus was "just right.”

Padma Shri awardee Yazdi Karanjia told Parsi Times who were media partners for the event "such festivals need to be encouraged for the benefit of the community.” 

Another party who did not wish to be named bemoaned the lower Parsi participation at what he termed was a "jamboree.” He stated the gathering  put a strain on the infrastructure of the village as more waste was generated and had to be cleared.

At the panel discussion Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, speaking about religious education, stated, "There is a vacuum that needs to be filled. First Parsi schools had religious education classes but when the number of Zoroastrian children dwindled these classes stopped and then a nuclear family culture further resulted in a lacuna in children’s understanding of our religion.” He felt parents should undertake the responsibility to impart religious knowledge.

Lawyer Ervad Zerick Dastur said, "Today when there are doubts regarding our survival, it is gatherings like the IUU that reaffirm our identity will survive just like the holy fire of Iranshah.” 

Noshir Dadrawala, head of the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy and a former trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) spoke of the entrepreneurship legacy of the community. "We have always believed that wealth is fundamentally positive and it needs to be built by righteous means. Businesses run on Zoroastrian values create wealth on the principle of Asha.” He lamented the current general attitude of some who feel entitled and expect charitable trusts to take care of their myriad demands and expenses. He said that financial aid received should be seen as a loan and rolled back to the community so that others also benefit.

  3rd row: Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, Noshir Dadrawala, Ervad Zerick Dastur

Responding to the criticism from some quarters regarding the holding of the Utsav, Dastoor and World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) Trusts chairman Dinshaw Tamboly issued a joint statement followed by their individual comments. It read: "Criticism is always best ignored so long as it is limited to a divergence of views. However, when it is aimed at individuals by critics who do not have the courage of conviction to add their real names and identities, but choose to denigrate and character assassinate individuals and cast aspersions on their integrity under the cloak of anonymity, they can only be termed to be rank cowards…”

Dastoor provided a few illustrations of how the funds have been deployed:

"Setting up, upkeep and maintenance of the Zoroastrian Information Centre at Udvada which provides information, history and contribution of the Parsi community to the development of India.

"Maintenance and upkeep of the magnificent entry gate to Udvada; repairs and maintenance of the local police station in Udvada town, including roof; donating an ambulance for use by residents of Udvada; supplying books and uniforms to children of the P. P. Mistry High School at Udvada,

"It may be noted that in none of the IUU write-ups has it ever been mentioned that funds are raised for Iranshah. However, Iranshah as well as local Parsis who sell sandalwood and kathi, have benefited with there being a marked increase in their turnover and thereby income, as the multitude that attends the IUU all visit Iranshah and make offerings. Perhaps Iranshah has the highest number of footfalls on the days IUU is held. Hotels and dharamshalas at Udvada also enjoyed 100% occupancy during the days of the IUU, which would have definitely added to their income.

"It may be noted that FDU is registered with the office of the Charity Commissioner and has 80G permission which enables donors to claim tax exemptions. FDU accounts are all filed with the statutory authorities.

"It will not be out of place to mention that the earlier three editions of IUU were held in consultation and cooperation with the Udvada Samasth Anjuman (USA) without any slander or canard being heaped on FDU. However, ever since new members have joined the USA committee, the serenity with which the earlier members used to function has been disrupted.”

Tamboly responded to the critics: "The donors who have been entrusting their hard-earned funds to the (WZO Trusts) to undertake various welfare activities have been very satisfied with the levels of transparency and accountability. 

"Team WZO Trusts enjoys the confidence of donors worldwide which enables them to raise funds annually for more than 650 community members requiring medical assistance, 200+ students being supported in their pursuit of education, both in India as well as overseas, over 500 economically challenged elderly, infirm and poor being supported through quarterly support, over 170 mobeds being supported financially. Team WZO Trusts has successfully over the last three decades assisted in rehabilitating 500+ Zoroastrian farmers, rebuilt 340 huts into cottages, and extended financial support by way of interest free loans to more than 1,240 Zoroastrians towards their self-employment.

"Each individual has to decide the path they wish to walk on, either in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”