A 21-kilo sandalwood maachi, the unfurling of the Kavyani flag, and its traditional procession with much pomp and pageantry ("gaajtu vaajtu”) through the adjoining Parsi mohallas (localities), kicked off the 195th salgirah celebrations of the Seth Dadabhai Naoshirwanji Modi Atash Behram which fell on October 2 this year, notes Ervad Harvesp Sanjana, secretary of the Shri Surat Athornan Mandal.
Celebrating in Surat, (top) unfurling the Kavyani flag at the Modi Atash Behram; (top right) attending mobeds;
(above, from left): Ervads Faredoon Turel and Darius Katrak, Dastur Cyrus Dastur, Tehmurasp Modi, Zavareh Wadia
A 30-mobed jashan led by Surat High Priest Dastur Cyrus Dastur followed. A talk by Bombay’s Ervad Darius Katrak on Behram Yazad and the unveiling of a photograph of previous Atash Behram trustee late Dr Sam Bhacca were the evening’s events. Ervad Faredoon Turel who has served the holy fire for over 50 years was felicitated by the trustees of the Mandal and the Atash Behram, writes Sanjana. Atash Behram trustees Dr Darius Modi, Zavareh Wadia and Tehmurasp Modi attended the function, he notes.
With 60 members, all Surat based mobeds, the Mandal organizes at least four events like jashans and religious talks annually, Sanjana informed Parsiana. Financial help is provided to the needy.
"One hundred and ninety five years ago, on the day the Atash Behram was declared open, Surat saw an unprecedented gathering of 20,000 Parsis,” says Sanjana on a call with Parsiana. "As a mark of respect, sister community members who were in any trade connected with fire (goldsmiths and ironsmiths) had kept their businesses closed,” he informs.