The rise and tide

An unprecedented congregation of more than 2,000 Zoroastrians gathered at the Radio Club on March 28, 2003 to observe the Avan Ardivisur Parav which is being annually celebrated for over 20 years, stated a press release. The Zoroastrian religion is an environment friendly religion and it is a sin to defile any element of nature, mentioned Kersi Limathwalla in his welcome address, requesting the audience not to drop their offerings in the water but to leave it at a distance, on the banks. One should be selfless and adopt an attitude of total surrender in prayers, reinforced Limathwalla who believed that if one’s prayers are not answered the fault lies with the devotee and not with the prayers.

Chief guest Minoo Shroff, chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet referred to the Zoroastrian ethos and how proud he was when Queen Elizabeth II seemed knowledgeable on the Zoroastrian community and its contribution to general society. "India without the Parsis was like an egg without its yolk and much of its salt,” Shroff quoted the words of Beverely Nicholas.

The finale of the evening was the lucid speech of Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada who referred to the various trials and tribulations faced by the community in its efforts to preserve the religion and culture. He delineated the history, from the rule of the Sassanian dynasty to the escapade from Iran, the landing in India, and the consecration and safeguarding of the Iranshah. Maintain a dress code when visiting the Atash Behram in Udvada, he appealed to the devotees, reminding them that they were on a pilgrimage and not on a picnic. The evening ended with religious and devotional songs.

The tradition of celebrating Avan Yazad Parav was initiated by Rustomji Kukadaru and Dinshaw Merchant nearly 25 years ago, mentions the press release, noting how the baton came to be passed on to Limathwalla in 1997. At the Farvar­dian Parav at the Doongerwadi, Merchant intuitively announced his hope that Limathwalla would take over the mantle of organizing the Parav celebrations. The fourth day after the announcement Merchant suddenly passed away. The onus of organizing these religious meets has since fallen on Limathwalla and his able team of Nadir Modi, Cowasjee Dinshaw, Naval Unwalla, Bakhtavar Merchant, Zarir Bhathena, Kersi Commissariat and Rusi Bhumgara. "One hopes that there are more such persons and more such events to bring the community together rather than raise issues that divide the community,” adds the release.