Faith and fervor

More than 1,600 Zoroastrians gathered at the Cama Baug complex on March 3, 2003 to participate in the 155th anniversary celebration of the P. N. Godiwalla Agiary (also known as the Seth Muncherji Khurshedji Langrana Agiary). While the hall was reportedly packed to capacity since 5 p.m. when the jashan started, the momentum started building up as the evening progressed — with devotional songs from the girls of Bai Avabai Petit School, religious discourses by Nayab Dastur Peshotan Mirza and Noshir Dadrawala on the significance and symbolization of fire and light, lively music by Marzban Mehta and his troupe which prompted the older ladies to spontaneously take to the floor to perform the garbas of yore, and finally the memorable dinner by Tanaz Godiwalla for Rs 70 per head.

On the occasion, the Langrana Agiary in Fort received nearly Rs 40,000 as donations towards its kathi fund, mentions Mehernosh Doctor, a regular devotee at the Agiary. "Till date we have no administrative overheads. Therefore we ensure that every rupee of the trust is utilized for the benefit of the Agiary,” notes the appeal from the trustees Hoshang D. Katrak, Rustomjee D. Garda and Godrej A. Fanibanda. "Due to rising costs of maintenance of property and reducing returns on investments, it becomes more and more difficult to manage the Agiary with a limited income,” adds the appeal.

From the inception of the Agiary on April 9, 1847 until 1983, there was only the Katrak family which tended the fire without any remuneration from the trustees. They sustained themselves on baj and rojgar prayers with ashodad serving as a fringe benefit, notes a press release.

A jashan at Cama Baug celebrating Langrana Agiary’s 155th anniversary; (Above, from left): Fani­banda, Katrak,

Garda, Mirza, Dadrawala and M. Mehta

Photos: C. C. Gandevia

When the Agiary was built at Fort by Muncherji Langrana in memory of his son Kaikhusroo, the first panthaky was Ervad Meherwandaru Dadabhoy Katrak. The building then had two storeys. With no heir left in the Langrana family to look after the Agiary which was gradually becoming dilapidated, the then trustees requested Pestonji Nusserwanji Godiwalla, the owner of the Mazgaon Dock to rebuild the fire-temple building. Thus on April 25, 1895 was recon­secrated the fire in the reconstructed fire-temple built in memory of Godiwalla’s daughter Pirojbai.

The present trustees are seeking to raise Rs 5,00,000 towards the major repairs and renovation of the Agiary. Prior to the celebrations, the electrical wiring of the fire-temple which had not been changed in the last six decades was replaced and minimal plastering and white-washing work was undertaken. Next on their priorities is repairing the wooden roof as also the priest’s room above the kebla. The trustees are looking forward to financial support from the community. Cheques/drafts favoring "P. N. Godiwalla Trust for Fire Temple” may be forwarded to the trustees at 21 Gola Lane, Behind Parsi Punchayet Office, Fort, Bombay 400001, tel: 23671757.