I read with great sorrow the article "An accidental pilgrimage” (In Memoriam, Parsiana, September 21-October 6, 2022) about the accident on the highway involving devotees returning to Bombay from Udvada in which two persons died and two others were injured. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace and we pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
I would like to present here an account of the pilgrimage to the Iranshah Atsah Behram through the ages. The sacred fire, consecrated in Sanjan, arrived in Udvada in 1742 AD. I have not been able to go through the records and reports of the earlier years but what is narrated here is what was observed by my grandfather and father over 120 years or so ago.
Earlier, the only mode of transport was the bullock cart. Behramji (Behli) was the proud owner of one of these carts. When passengers complained that the cart tilted as one ox was shorter than the other, Behli would explain that the shorter ox was much older than the other one. Over the years, horse-driven carriages replaced the bullock carts. Still later came buses; noted owners were Munchershah (Mano), Pirojsha (Pilo) and Rustomji. With the passage of time hoteliers introduced cars as taxis but all these vehicles plied over dirt roads till Maharashtra state tourism minister Homi Taleyarkhan had concrete roads built in the town in the 1950s. Today the common form of public transport is the auto rickshaw.
The J. J. Dharamshala is one of the oldest buildings (now renovated). In the time of my grandfather, the most popular place to stay was Sidhwa’s Hotel. This is not to be confused with Kekobad Sidhwa’s Globe Hotel which came into prominence later along with Pestonji Patel’s King Hotel. A highlight of the earlier mentioned Sidhwa’s Hotel was a parrot in a cage which had picked up often repeated phrases like "Jimmy ayo ké (has Jimmy returned)?” and "Rama, ice lav (Rama, bring the ice).” With the passage of time, several other hotels sprang up like Rezashah, Majestic, Nosherwan, Ashishwang, along with guest houses.
Though times have changed, a visit to the Iranshah provides solace and peace of mind as it is the holy abode of the sacred fire. Dr V. M. MEHER HOMJI
vispimeherhomji@gmail.com