The 178th salgirah of Secunderabad’s Seth Viccaji Meherji and Seth Pestonji Meherji Dar-e-Meher was celebrated on July 30, 2025 with a jashan attended by several Zoroastrians from the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad. The Agiary was a sight to behold with its rich carpets and grandfather clocks while Capt Kayarmin Pestonji, president of the Agiary trust, had his vintage cars displayed in the compound of the fire temple. Pestonji thanked the staff of the agiary "who work 365 days to maintain the place.”
Khoty Chenai, president of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad (PZASH), was felicitated on the occasion for her long years of selfless service to the Parsi community. Cyrus Irani, managing trustee presented her with a shawl, while trustee Zubin Viccaji handed her a bouquet and trustee Kaizad Pestonji gave her a gift on behalf of the Pestonji family. Special invitee Mehernosh Chenoy, president of the Hyderabad agiary trust conveyed his blessings to the Seth Viccaji Meherji and Seth Pestonji Meherji Dar-e-Meher.
Top: Gool and Kayarmin Pestonji;
above, seated from l: Kairah and Kaizad Pestonji,
Zubin Viccajee, Cyrus Irani, Khorshed Chenai, Kayarmin and Gool Pestonji,
Dinaz Viccajee with priests and agiary staff (standing)
Nine-year-old Kairah Pestonji, granddaughter of Kayarmin and Gool Pestonji, thanked Chenai for her 35 years of service as a trustee and now as president of PZASH. Referring to her as a "great grand lady of our community” she commented on her "remarkable elegance, grace and unwavering dedication” to the Zoroastrian community. Even at the age of 95 her meticulous attention to detail ensures that the Anjuman gardens, the Agiary and surrounding areas remain beautiful and well maintained. During the muktad days, all the vases are tastefully laid out with the choicest flowers handpicked by her.
The heritage building in the heart of Secunderabad received the INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) award in 1999. Two brothers, Pestonji Meherji (1783-1854) and Viccaji Meherji (1798-1853) built the fire temple. They were originally bankers and cotton traders from Bombay who were doing business in Latur and Sholapur. Around 190 years ago, the then Nizam asked them to extend the cotton trade to Hyderabad. The Hyderabad-Bombay cotton trade used 500 bullock carts a year. The number soon increased to five lakh bullock carts annually. The trade peaked 160 years ago as tons of cotton were being exported to Manchester, England. The brothers were also responsible for the construction of hundreds of miles of roads, bridges and bungalows for travellers to rest in.
The Nizam had borrowed Rs 40 lakhs from the brothers to maintain the troops provided to him by the British Army to protect him from Tipu Sultan and the French soldiers. Instead of paying the half percent interest annually, the Nizam granted the brothers a big jagir (property). The Meherji brothers were the only Parsi family to have minted their own currency in the Nizam’s mint at Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The coin was called the Pestonshai Sicca and Pestonji was permitted to inscribe his initials on it.
Beyniaz Edulji