Sacred sincerity

Several members of the community have been playing a significant role in helping the 157-year-old Langrana (Godiwalla) Agiary raise Rs 25,00,000 to meet the costs of the extensive renovation needed for the structure built in 1887. "Our team of dedicated workers has helped us voluntarily...The brightest stars are two ladies...Maharukh Noble’s...contribution along with her philanthropist brother Shahrukh Kathawala, advocate, tops the list of donors. She is joined by Ruby Bharucha. They have proven excellent leadership skills by keeping the band of social workers enthused and motivated. They were ably supported by the relentless efforts of Bahadur Mistry, Adi Daver, Marzi Vatcha and Soonoo Andhyarujina who also led a large team of Gamadia Colony Hostel boys and volunteers,” noted a message of gratitude from the three trustees of the Agiary, Hosung D. Katrak, Rustomjee D. Garda and Godrej A. Fanibanda.

A token of appreciation was presented by chief guest Jamshed Guzder to all those who had contributed to the success of the fund-raising drive at the house full show at the Sophia Bhabha Auditorium on the evening of January 26, 2004 when Dinyar Contractor and his troupe staged The Good, The Bad and The Googly. Earlier in the morning a khushali nu jashan led by Nayab Dastur Peshotan Hormazdyar Mirza was performed on the Agiary premises.

At the Langrana Agiary (far left) fund- raising drive (alongside) Garda presenting memento to Guzder (right) (Below) Trustees with benefactors, volunteers and thespians

Since the inception of the Agiary only one family — the Katraks — tended the holy fire till 1982. "One could see Ervad Khurshedji Darabshaw Katrak, a director with TOMCO Limited, proudly performing the boi ceremony in the Agiary or his brother Ervad Jamshedji doing the same or cleaning the Agiary with all his love and devotion,” it was mentioned in the souvenir. Currently Ervad Hoshi Bharda performs the boi and other ceremonies with the assistance of his father Pesi while mother Aban helps in the day-to-day running of the Agiary.

When the Agiary was established on Golvad Lane, Fort on mah Meher, roz Dae-pa-Meher, April 9, 1847 by Man­cherji Khurshedji Langrana there was a large conglomerate of Parsis residing in the Fort area and hence the need for an agiary in almost every lane. When the Langrana family was unable to maintain the Agiary, Pestonji Nasserwanjee Godiwalla agreed to do so in memory of his daughter, the late Pirojbai. The old structure was demolished and a new one took its place. After due liturgical ceremonies the Agiary was reinaugurated on mah Avan, roz Avan, April 25, 1895. Also known as the Lost and Found Agiary, there is a strong belief that if you pray with total sincerity at this Agiary you will find the lost object.