Religious revision

Sixteen participants enrolled for the 12-day second residential refresher course for ostas and ervads organized by the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute Ex-Students’ Association at the Institute premises during the Diwali holidays in 2003. The participants who were given training in prayers, performance of religious ceremonies and knowledge of Parsi history and public speaking skills "got an opportunity to upgrade, rejuvenate and reinforce their faith in the Zoroastrian religion,” as notes a write-up by Marzban Giara.

Some of the 30 participants who attended the first refresher course in May 2003 chose to attend the second course too, conveyed honorary secretary of the Association Ervad Cyrus Dastoor. Not only the adhoora (part) navars, even the sampoorna (complete) navar-maratabs who may have received their requisite training at the madressas can benefit from such courses if they are not in regular touch with their Ijasni, Visperad and Vendidad prayers, asserts Dastoor. "Priests have to be enlightened to guide the community,” he declared.

Ninety-one-year-old ex-student Ervad Irach Kuka recalled the earnest desire of the founder Merwanji Cama that this Institute bring forth athravans in the service of the Parsi community, citing the work of Dastoor whose TV serial Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta serves to spread the message of Zoroastrianism. Another ex-student Ervad Khurshed Bhada suggested that panthakis should send part-time priests for such refresher courses who in turn can provide useful service during muktad days. Ervad Pirojshah Sidhwa was of the view that parents should stipulate a prayer time of 20-30 minutes each day for young initiates.

Three of the participants gave impressive speeches: Ervad Yazad Karkaria spoke on "Revival of the Zoroastrian faith,” Ervad Kaivan Antia on "Role of athravan in rejuvenating the Zarathushti religion” and Ervad Anosh Master on "Preservation of Zoroastrian religion.” All lectures delivered during the course of the first course have been compiled in the form of a book titled My Athravan Heritage by Ervad Ariz Panthaki.

M. F. Cama Athornan Institute in Andheri (top left). Recognition for participants at the second refresher course. Below: Mehernosh Bharucha, Dastoor, Guzder and Ariz Panthaki Photos: Jimmy Unwalla and Marazban Bhesania

This course coordinated by Ervads Keki Panthaki, Mahiyar Panthaki and Sidhwa was organized with the cooperation of the trustees, the principal of the Institute Adi Bhi­wan­di-wala and the generosity of philanthro-pist NarYman Dubash. All participants were given certificates and prizes were distributed for bhantar (prayer recitation), public speaking, games, etc. Announcing his donation of Rs 1,00,000 to the Institute, chief guest Jamshed Guzder suggested that more publicity should be given to the Institute and its noble work.

Requesting one or two volunteers from among the students to organize the next refresher course scheduled for May 2004, Dastoor announced that a day scholar scheme will soon be started where knowledge of prayers, Avesta Pahlavi, Parsi history will be imparted.