"What we recently had was nothing new or special. It is just that in this age, with social media being rampant, every little thing goes viral,” stated Shahveer J. H. P. Byramji, trustee of Karachi’s Heerjibhoy Jamshedji Behrana Dar-e-Meher. He was referring to the fire temple’s 171st anniversary on Shahenshahi mah Ava, roz Adar, March 23, 2019 that was observed with a jashan and illumination of the edifice, as per their practice for the last several decades. Images of these were happily circulated on WhatsApp across the border in India. For the decorations and lights each year on the agiary salgirah (anniversary), an anonymous "generous donor has set up an Endowment Fund with us for this very purpose,” he clarified.
Clockwise from above right: Karachi’s Heerjibhoy Jamshedji Behrana Dar-e-Meher,
illuminated on 171st anniversary; verandah on the precincts; devotees in attendance;
consecrated food items; jashan in progress
Nearly 60 devotees attended the jashan performed by Ervads Shahrukh Sidhwa, Burgese Bhada, Rohinton Mirza, Rustom Dastur and Ardvan Solan. In addition to Sidhwa who officiates as acting panthaky there is one part-time priest attached to this fire temple which sees an average daily footfall of 25. According to Byramji, "Apart from the financial constraints which we as a community can resolve, our one and only major challenge is the lack of mobeds. In spite of our best efforts and offering a fairly generous remuneration package we have been unable to induce any mobed to come from India.” Besides Byramji, the other trustees looking after the Dar-e-Meher are chairman Jimmy Sidhwa, managing trustee Zarir Doctor, Freddy Sidhwa and Yazdi Sidhwa.
This atash adaran was consecrated in the home of Heerjibhoy Behrana in 1848. As specified in his will, after his death his widow Meherbai built the new Dar-e-Meher opposite their house and handed over the same along with several other properties for its upkeep to five trustees. On April 27, 1875, "the Atash Adaran Shah was once again consecrated and was enthroned in this new building for the use of the Parsi community,” reads a plaque.
"With time and growing need, the agiary was completely renovated and a second storey was added by Ardeshir Homusji Mama in memory of his father. The renovated building as it stands today was opened on August 15, 1918,” noted a brief report in What’s On, the newsletter of the Karachi Zarthosti Banu Mandal. Minwalla Hall was added at the back of the new building in 1947 by Cyrus Minwalla in memory of his parents Mithibai and Framji. This was refurbished in 1980 by Mehra Minwalla in memory of Cyrus and renovated once again in 2005 by Darayus Cyrus Minwalla.
Both, the Behrana Dar-e-Meher and the Wadia agiary in Karachi, permit entry to Zoroastrian women who have married out of the community and their navjoted children. This is provided the mother has not subsequently converted to any other religion, clarifies Byramji.