The rituals involved in the restoration of the Cowasji Edulji Bisni dakhma were brought to a close with a jashan led by Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji at the Icchapurwalla Pavilion at Bombay’s Doongerwadi on January 17, 2021. A total expenditure of Rs 26,05,001 was incurred on the restoration work, announced Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Armaity Tirandaz in her brief address at the Sunday morning function. Observing the prescribed sanitization and social distancing protocol were fellow BPP trustees Noshir Dadrawala, Kersi Randeria, Viraf Mehta and Xerxes Dastur, a few BPP and Doongerwadi staff members and some donors who were also in attendance. Doongerwadi manager Vistaspar Mehta was felicitated for his commitment to the project.
Clockwise from top: Jashan at the reopening of Bisni dakhma; planting of saplings by donors;
Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustees, staff, donors and priests Photos: Parinaz M. Gandhi
Not in use for nearly a year due to the repair work that was initiated in early 2020, after the restoration and three rounds each of water and taro cleansing (see "Doongerwadi upkeep,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, January 21-February 6, 2021), followed by pav mahal ceremonies at the Anjuman Atash Behram, a divo had been kept lit in the Bisni dakhma’s central well or bhandar. The first body to be laid in a dakhma after restoration should be of an athornan or osta (from a priestly family), advised Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal whose ritual injunctions the Doongerwadi staff and priests had been observing.
Following the demise of Ervad Peshotan Mogal, his was the first body to be carried to the Bisni dakhma on January 20, Vistaspar informed Parsiana. Prior to that the divo from the bhandar was brought out and is now kept burning on a pedestal outside the dakhma from where it can cast its light on all the bodies consigned there.
Built in 1844, the Bisni dakhma was the fifth and last Tower to be erected on the Doongerwadi grounds, according to Sapur Desai’s History of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet 1860-1960. There are 78 pavis (stone slats where a body is put to rest) in the middle circle at the Bisni Tower, 57 at the Manekji Nowroji Sett’s Tower, 87 at the Anjuman Tower and 87 at the Framji Cowasji Banaji Tower that are generally used in rotation. The Mody Hirjibhai Vacha-Gandhi’s Tower continues to be reserved for women who have married out of the community and have signed an affidavit in advance that as practicing Zoroastrians they would like their last rites to be performed at Doongerwadi.
Specially readied saw major donors plant saplings in support of the afforestation efforts undertaken at Doongerwadi by Dr Rashneh Pardiwala, founder of the Centre for Environmental Research and Education (see "The last green lung,” pg 18).
Since 2015, a total of 7,092 trees have been planted on Doongerwadi and Ambawadi lands showing a survival rate of 98.2%, Pardiwala conveyed to the gathering. Fifty-two species of native trees have been planted and for the first time they even experimented with sandalwood although it is known to require a dry climate and not heavy monsoons, she stated.
Whilst appreciating the "strong support of the trustees who have faith in me… the unwavering support of donors like Persis Vatcha (who was present on the occasion),” Pardiwala regretted that misled community enthusiasts stall her efforts by filing frivolous complaints with the municipality and police, alleging that she is impeding the natural growth of forests. When passersby question, "Why are you cutting down trees?” she is at pains to explain to them that "only those that have fallen or are termite infested are removed. Eighty large trees fell during the last monsoons.” With the new plantations and drip irrigation she has introduced she was hoping "to improve biodiversity at Doongerwadi as a legacy for the next generation.” Parinaz M. Gandhi