"The rain did not stop us decking up in our festive attire. My 21-month old daughter Uzairin was very happy to sport her traditional Parsi jhabla,” said Hyderabad resident Kunashni Daver about the Navroz celebrations in that city. Bombay resident Freny Shroff makes it a point to come to Secunderabad each year in time for Parsi New Year to see her married daughter Shirley Kanga. "The Navroz function every year is always a fun evening. I enjoy the function with my daughter, son-in-law Rashid and my three granddaughters Karishma, Roxanne and Farzana at the Zoroastrian Club (ZC).” Kanga adds, "This is the one occasion where we get to meet all the Zoroastrians of the twin cities, even those we rarely meet the rest of the year.”
Independence Day celebrations at the Zoroastrian Club, Hyderabad;
Inset: Gusti Noria (l) and Jehangir Irroni: felicitated on Navroz
Community members met twice around the Shahenshahi New Year YZ 1388 at the ZC. Of those who attended the Independence Day celebrations, 110 stayed for the brunch after the flag hoisting conducted by Club president Minoo Siganporia. A quiz hosted by Prof B. Gopal Rao, former principal of the city’s Nizam College, assisted by local denizen Ssonu Irroni, followed by housie were the highlights of the morning. Six teams participated in the quiz, with the youngest team, mostly aged between 10 and 12, led by Perviz Bhote being the winners. Club honorary secretary Percy Daver appreciated the efforts of Rao in supporting the event. The brunch menu, at subsidized rates, included fried eggs, akuri, chicken sausage, khandvi (a Gujarati delicacy), pakoras and samosas.
Kunashni says, "At Navroz we look forward to the sumptuous spread at dinner with the community folk eating in traditional Parsi style on the patra (banana leaf)…Winning the table tennis ladies doubles (with Nazneen Gandevia) was extra special!” Prizes were distributed for the indoor sports held at the Club earlier. The Navroz dinner on August 17 was preceded by housie and a skit performed by community youngsters. Telangana State Minorities Commission member Gusti Noria (see "Resolving minority issues,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, July 7, 2018) and film director Jehangir Irroni (see "Suicide at the cinema,” Parsiana, August 7, 2018) were felicitated. Dinner for 500 of those assembled was catered for by Abad Wadia and included sali marghi, patra ni machhi, mutton pulao and lagan nu custard.