Reportedly the first ever gahanbar in Panchgani saw attendees and volunteers from Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Bombay, Dahanu, Secunderabad and even New York flock to the Il Palazzo Hotel to partake of the event early summer this year. The event
was held in memory of Shirin Davierwalla and hosted as well as catered by Il Palazzo and the Davierwalla family.
Ervads Noshirwan Dastoor, Ardaviraf Sinor, Kaipashin Raimalwala, Neville Vajifdar and Rohinton Pavri led a humbandagi while Ervad Noshirwan Dastoor of the Poona Kadmi and Shahenshahi Anjuman Dar e Meher performed the stum prayer. Vajifdar attends to religious duties in the hill town as a substitute mobed. The colorful flower beds at the venue were overflowing with zinnias, petunias and geraniums. The dinner, attended by 400 people consisted of sali gosh, chicken farcha and dhansak.
Two busloads of 96 Zoroastrians came from Poona. According to Arzan Khambatta of that city, "Sixteen of us have come to attend and help.” Old friends Behroze Patell of Secunderabad and Shireen and Bakhtavar Bharucha of Poona met up there. Eighty-four-year-old beautician and hairdresser Jeruh Dastoor of Poona said, "I enjoyed the atmosphere and was very happy meeting many of my friends there.” Childhood friends Tehmton Mehta, Neville and Rohinton Mistry of Bombay had driven down from Bombay. Mistry said, "We took the opportunity to visit the dar-e-mehers in Poona and Panchgani too.”
Partaking of the gahanbar at the colonial Il Palazzo
Many Zoroastrians took the opportunity to visit The Seth Nanabhai Bejonji Choksi Dar-e-Meher at Panchgani which is a very short walk from Il Palazzo. Ervad Hoshang Bhandara, the priest at the well-kept 86-year-old Dar-e-Meher welcomed all. About 30 Parsis from other cities stayed in six cottages at the Gulshan e Aram Sanatorium.
Some visitors availed of the three-day-two-night stay package with all meals included, offered by Il Palazzo from April 7 to 9. The main building of the Hotel was built in 1925, in colonial style and the rooms and cottages are spread over three acres of greenery, framed by tall and sprightly silver oak trees. About 110 guests stayed at the Hotel, Parsiana was informed.
Tug-of-war and tombola was organized on April 8, then a dance night with retro music by the swimming pool, followed by dinner attended by 150 guests. Soli Daruwalla (85) and his wife Sheroo (70) from Bombay were among the most nimble and tireless dancers. Feroze Katrak of Bombay was there with his wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. The sixth family member was their three-year-old, well behaved Golden Retriever Figo. Katrak said, "We were all happy to be here but the happiest was Figo.”
Mancher and Bomy Mubaraki and Piran Irani said, "We all drove down from Dahanu and enjoyed the functions organized by Il Palazzo.” The Dahanu visitors generously brought along chikoos and papayas which were served at breakfast to all those staying at Il Palazzo. "When is the next gahanbar going to be held?” was the question on most lips as the guests departed.