Rewarding prayers

The Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) Achievement Awardees for 2004 and the winners of the prayer recitation and kusti weaving compe­titions were felicitated at the annual function at Cama Baug on November 5, 2004 when Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza was the chief guest and Prof Nellie K. Gandhi was the guest of honor.

While Mirza lucidly traced the history of the Parsis, Gandhi complimented the BPA on its efforts to arouse community fervor among the youth. As notes the BPA newsletter of November 5, 2004, "It endeavors to inspire and encourage the youth of the community to preserve the traditions of our great Zarathushti religion and people.” At its prayer recitation competition nearly 250 participants ranging in age from three years to 85 vied for the prizes. The six recipients of the BPA Achievement Awards were Ervad Irach Kuka, Noshir Lam, Behroz Vacha, Peshotan Kapadia, Khushnam Wadia and Scherezade Contractor.

Garlanding the statues of eminent citizens like Dadabhai Naoroji, laying wreaths at the War Memorial at Kha-reghat Colony on mah Fravardin, roz Fravardin to pay respects to the Parsis who had laid down their lives when defending their nation, and sup­porting the activities of The Federation of Zoroastrian Associa­tion for Welfare and Culture (FOZAWAC), being a founder member there, are some of the principal activities of the 84-year-old BPA.

At the BPA function (top row, from left): Shroff, P. Mirza, V. Dastur, N. Gandhi, S. Dastur, K. Gandhi and M. Mirza; (below) BPA award winners Kuka, Vacha, Lam, Kapadia, Wadia and Contractor

The highlights of the various BPA activities were related by Tehmina Peer at the annual day function. The program commenced with a jashan led by Ervad Aspandiar Dadachanji and his son Hormazd after which a two-minute silence was observed in memory of Dastur Hormazdyar Mirza. A hambandagi led by Shahvir Dastur, a monajat by Homai Bulsara, and the singing of Chhaiyé Hamé Zar­athushti with Jamshed Kotwal and Rati Peer also added charm to the evening, as acknowledged Aloo Shroff in her vote of thanks whilst referring to the cooperation of her fellow committee members Soli and Arnavaz Mistry and Dinoo Dastur. The BPA was particularly grateful to Sharukh Kathawala for his magnanimity in sponsoring the event. Whilst the invitees and prize winners are given complimentary dinner tokens, the rest contributed to enjoy the repast catered by Minoo Bharucha.