Priest prodigy

Barely 12 years old, Ervad Eric Zarir Dastoor has not only completed his navar and martab initiation at the Iranshah in Udvada, he has also appeared for his ‘Saamel’ examination which qualifies him to perform the boi at the holiest sanctum sactorum of the Atash Behram in Udvada, mentions Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, principal of the Dadar Athornan Boarding Madressa where Dastoor trains.

On December 20, 2002 he performed his first boi ceremony at the Iranshah under the guidance and watchful eyes of his father Ervad Zarir Minocher Dastoor and uncle Ervad Pallonji P. Dastoor. Having performed the navar ceremony of Rustom Dadiba Unwalla, he may have created a record for being the youngest mobed to undertake this ceremony, writes Karanjia.

From left: Ervads Eric Dastoor, Unwalla and Pallonji Dastoor

The seven-year Bhantar course of the Madressa, young Eric completed in four years. In his academic studies too he has consistently earned distinction and is presently a student of Std VII at the Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly High School. Shining out in extracurricular activities like the Shahnameh, essay, elocution and quiz competitions, Eric has won prizes and trophies not only at the Madressa but also at external competitions. Secular as well as religious education, boarding, lodging and allied facilities are provided absolutely free of cost to the children training to be full-fledged priests at the Dadar Madressa, mentions Karanjia.