For members of the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat (ZWAS), August 2024 marked "the ending of all that is in the past” and an "eager welcome to the treasures hidden in the (Shahenshahi) New Year.” The Seth Pestonji Kalabhai Vakil Kadim Atash Behram complex was the venue of their two-day event on August 3-4, 2024 that included a prayer competition, religious quiz, rangoli competition and the ubiquitous antakshari (game of film songs), among other events. "The stall owners had laid out their lip-smacking (food) and the audience had begun to stroll in amidst the downpour,” noted an email from ZWAS secretary Daizy Patel and member Nekshan Khandadia.
Organizers and participants of competitions
organized by the Zoroastrian Women’s Assembly of Surat
Their mainstay, the prayer competition, was sponsored by the Minu Mehenti Trust Funds and judged by Ervads Sarosh Dastur and Meherzad Turel. Children in teams of three each participated in a religious quiz curated by trustee Maharukh Chichgar and conducted by Dilnaz Besania. "Musicians played tunes of famous Hindi songs to set the stage for the antakshari competition… All, young and old, participated not just to compete but to sing out loud the songs that ruled their hearts,” noted the email from ZWAS. "The musical masti (fun)” was handled by Mahazarin Variava and Besania.
The next day, which dawned bright and clear, saw participants showcasing their talent in the rangoli, umbrella decoration and card making competitions, judged by Daizy Elavia and Tasneem Indorewala. That evening was devoted to the Ratan Marshall Elocution Competition. "The participants left the judges and the audience spellbound with their content, confidence and cuteness,” stated ZWAS’s note. This competition was judged by gynecologist Dr Persis Doodhwala and teacher Julie Fernandes. Pashan Mehta and Shanaira Variava compered this segment.
Prizes galore were handed out. The main organizers of the event were president Mahazarin Variava, Patel, trustee Chichgar and office bearers Dilnaz Besania and Piloo Bhathena, stated the write-up. Delzeen Bavaadam and Aazmin Besania were the masters of ceremony.
"We gave some special prizes in loving memory of the late Shirin Vakil, Manijeh Chichgar, Percy Chichgar, Mehernosh Karanjia and Dinaz Karanjia to those children who participated in all the events for both the days,” ended the note.