It is just another Wednesday afternoon on the streets of South Bombay. Buses, cars and taxis vie for an extra inch of thoroughfare while pedestrians knock elbows in a mad dash towards Churchgate station. Amidst the daily madness, Mehernosh Writer calmly walks through the gates of the Bhikha Behram Well clutching the hands of his daughter Zenia, four and his son Mehrzad, 12. For faithful Zarathushtis this isn’t just any Wednesday; it’s the first anniversary of the monthly humbandagi that was initiated at this venue on Avan roz.
"The community that prays together, stays together,” says humbandagi co-founder Hoshaang Gotla, 25. Gotla, who has grown up in Cusrow Baug, spent two years in America training to become a commercial pilot. Although he had always prayed faithfully, he found a new appreciation for Zarathushti places of worship while living miles away from home. "In America I yearned for a fire temple,” said Gotla, which eventually sparked the idea of starting the humbandagi.
His goal is to bring "unity back into the community,” another catch phrase that he says often and with an enthusiastic smile, but with a specific focus on the youth. As Perzon Zend, 47, who co-founded the gathering with Gotla points out, the original goal was to get the kids together. "In Islam the brotherhood of thousands of people praying together makes my hair stand up,” remarks Zend. "This generation of youth has to pull their socks up and unite, only then will we survive. We have to inculcate the value of loving the religion.”
(Top) After a short prayer around the Bhikha Behram Well during the first anniversary of the humbandagi held on Avan roz Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia (center) speaks briefly about the significance and meaning of Spenta Armaiti; (right) Zenia Writer, four, rests her hands on top of her father, Mehernosh Writer’s; (alongside) jashan in progress
In its first year the humbandagi has evolved from a simple group prayer to a short program. Each meet begins with a prayer, followed by an English translation, then a short talk by a prominent member of the community and concludes with the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti.
"We have very few regular get-togethers for prayer,” said Khorshed Oomrigar of Parel. "This gathering allows people to meet regularly and make a habit of it.” Oomrigar, who has attended every humbandagi since the first one held on October 26, 2009, says that for her the habit of praying together has brought her confidence and courage as well as good thoughts beyond the walls of the Well.
The first anniversary commenced with a jashan led by Ervad Farzad Ravji of the Cama Baug Agiary who, as Gotla mentions, has offered his time free of charge for the community. He was joined in the prayers by Ervads Hormuz Ravji and Vistasp Khambatta. Before the jashan concludes, people slowly start gathering around the Well. Within a few minutes, the congregation of nearly 100 make three concentric rings around the Well.
(Clockwise from top left) Worshipper facing the diva enclosure at Bhikha Behram Well where walls are lined with photographs of Prophet Zarathushtra and other benefactors; Khorshed Oomrigar of Parel pictured praying during the first anniversary of the humbandagi held on Avan roz, October 27, 2010; humbandagi founders Hoshaang Gotla (left) and Perzon Zend talk before the jashan begins; Ervad Farzad Keki Ravji leads the jashan, the other priests are Hormaz Ravji and Vistasp Khambatta
After a short prayer and translation, Gotla introduced Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia who spoke briefly about the significance and meaning of Spenta Armaiti. Competing with the nearby cacophony of traffic, Karanjia had to raise his voice to make sure that he was audible. Spenta means to think of others, he explained, and Armaiti is that righteous and relaxed mind. For love to radiate "your mind should be on the right path and look to the benefit of others,” he continued. "Until we start loving ourselves we cannot love others. How to love has to be learnt, it is an art,” he said. "Love grows in concentric circles,” similar to the three concentric circles the faithful crowd had made around the Well, he added.
For Writer, the humbandagi is not just about praying together but also about appreciating the properties of the Well itself. "Unfortunately most Parsis don’t know how many energies are within the Well,” said Writer who has been coming there in his lunch break every day for the past 11 years. The humbandagi gives him the opportunity to pray with his family and his community. "It was my religion and my father that have guided me. Religion has helped me so much,” maintains Writer who wants his children to imbibe these sentiments.
Looking around the Well, it seems Gotla and Zend’s goal of gathering the youth may take a bit more time. Barring a sprinkling of youngsters, the majority of the crowd is well over 50 years of age. However that’s not to say the youth haven’t responded. Within a few weeks of creating a Facebook page for the humbandagi, Gotla had 400 followers, and soon after queries started coming in from eager Zarathushtis in London and Canada on how to start their own prayer gatherings. Gotla also sends text messages to people who cannot attend in person and encourages them to pray along at the same time, wherever they are.