The Athornan Foundation (AF) was constrained to truncate annual workshops for priests, ostas and behdin pasbaans (lay priests) to four days. The program used to be for two weeks over the past 18 years. Held at Langrana Godiwala Agiary in Fort between November 27-30, 2020, some of the 17 registrants could not attend due to restrictions on travel from Gujarat not having been fully lifted. "As has always been the practice, this program is free of cost, including lodging, supply of books, study material and is open to Zoroastrians of all ages,” wrote Ervad Cyrus Darbari, secretary of the Athornan Mandal, who assists AF in its activities, in an email to Parsiana. In 2018 and 2019, the two-week workshop was followed up with a three-day refresher, Darbari explained. Behdin pasbaans were included in the audience starting 2007-2008.
Sessions at the Athornan Foundation’s course
A jashan on the first day conducted by Ervads Marazban Kanga and Dinyar Modi flagged off the program, with chief guest and senior priest Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji emphasizing to the audience the need to discharge their duties with "dedication, discipline and piety.” Explanations of the boi and jashan ceremonies, demonstration of afringan and other prayers by Dadar Athornan Institute teachers Ervads Kersi Karanjia and Jamshed Dastoor were part of the curriculum, as were stories on philanthropy. "Special emphasis was laid on recitation of prayers with correct pronunciation, capability of reading the prayers fluently, diction and pause,” noted Darbari. Religious teacher Khojeste Mistree interacted with the audience on rituals, dakhmenashini, arrival of Parsis in India and many more subjects "pertaining to our religion and culture.” Darbari, who also teaches Avesta and Pahlavi languages for the Sir Jamsetji Jejeebhoy Zarthoshti Madressa, made a presentation on the importance of the kusti ritual, prayers for repentance, the Atash Niyayesh and after-death ceremonies.
Kanga and Ervad Naozer Tarachand performed the closing jashan. Darbari lauded the efforts of trustee Ervad Cyrus Dastoor in the organizing of the program, "without whom this event may not have been possible.” The other trustees of AF are Dasturs (Dr) Firoze Kotwal and Keki Ravji Meherjirana, Ervads Yazdi Aibara, Marazban Maney and Farzad Ravji. "We initially had an organization called The M. F. Cama Athornan Institute Ex-Students’ Association, established in 2001 for the annual residential refresher program,” wrote Darbari. The Association was registered in the name of AF last year, he explained. The objectives of the Foundation, besides spiritual and religious education, is "to produce well-educated and learned spiritual leaders,” and to assist the needy with aid. Women are reportedly not eligible to enrol for the course.