I have been visiting Doongerwadi on Fravardin nu parav for quite a few years now. This year too I went early — shielded with mask, carrying my prayer book and a plastic sheet to sit on.
In the hour plus I was there, I saw a diminished crowd as compared to three years ago (I now go also to the Prayer Hall at Worli). There was just one diesel Nano going up and down the hill to ferry the devout, as opposed to three or four cars making this trip in the past. Each person had to register her/his name and have their temperature recorded. As with all Covid information, there is controversy over whether or not the temperature should be measured by aiming the instrument at the forehead. There is a claim that the "gun” should be aimed only at the wrist. This is exactly what the person in attendance did and I was happily surprised that this new practice was already in use.
As I was returning home I spied Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Viraf Mehta seated on a chair with other BPP staff next to him. He had obtained permission from the Bombay High Court on behalf of the trust to allow devotees to attend the prayers for the departed. Without any fanfare, he flowed into the occasion as did the sparse crowd. No hiccups. No arguments. The police present sat at ease as there was no crowd to control.
Well arranged, BPP! MEHROO KOTVAL
mkotval@gmail.com