"In the last six years the Asha Vahishta dadgah in Poona has fulfilled the religious and spiritual needs of inter-married Parsis and other Zoroastrians… It is a place of worship and venue solely for Zoroastrian social and religious ceremonies such as navjotes, weddings, jashan, maachis, and the four-day obsequial funerary prayers for those who opt for burial or cremation, which non-Parsi family and friends can attend,” trustee Vispy Wadia stated. The place of worship has "fulfilled the main aim of inclusion by providing a truly dignified alternative to the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian families who were (prevented from) entering other Zoroastrian religious places of worship,” said the trustee.
Top and above: jashan at Asha Vahishta dadgah
The entry into their seventh year was celebrated with a contributory maachi, a hama anjuman jashan performed by four priests and humbandagi on December 25, 2023. "As always, the dadgah hall was completely filled with the devotees,” noted Wadia.
The dadgah sees about four to five worshippers per day while Sundays and special rozs attract 10-15 devotees. On Parsi New Year, Khordad Sal and Jamshedi Navroz "more than 100 worshippers come in, throughout the day,” noted Wadia. Currently four families observe muktads, "especially the ones who were either inter-married and/or had opted for cremation… These muktads give the opportunity to the non-Parsi spouse and relatives to attend the ceremonies and pay respects to the departed soul,” he stated. A total of 21 navjotes and nine marriage ceremonies were performed by their mobeds at the dadgah or at various other venues in Poona.
In addition to Vispy, his brother Kerssie Wadia, Farhad Bottlewalla, Behram Surty, Aspi Billimoria, Phiroze Dubash and Murzban Bharucha serve as trustees of the house of worship.