Panache in Poona

There was something for everyone in the 900 plus audience throughout the evening when bright and intricate kor ni saris mingled with western outfits, duglis shook hands with suits and jeans wished trousers! The most traditionally dressed Parsi woman…the gentleman carrying a red handkerchief…the guy with the longest hair…the lady with the shortest hair…were each awarded meal voucher prizes. In fact the 88-year-old lady with the shortest hair used this opportunity to announce that she was a real estate agent and had bungalows to be sold. This can happen only at our Khordad Sal function.

So states the report of the Zoroastrian Youth Association in Poona headed by Mabrin Nanavati which put up the show at Alpabachat Bhavan on August 25, 2005. The function commenced with a prayer by little Danesh Wadia after which a six-member choir sang a monajat on Zarathushtra specially composed by Sunoo Doctor. Besides the instrumental rendition of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti, the playing of the Irani version of the dafli had everyone guessing whether there were any beads inside making the jingling music. There were different dance items presented — from ballroom and Latin American dancing to the youngsters gyrating on songs like It’s magic and Kya Kool Hai Hum in addition to a number of foot-tapping items choreographed by 16-year-old Shiraz Irani.

The audience (bottom) enjoying the items presented at the Khordad Sal function in Poona

The audience, especially the kids, were kept enthralled by an ace juggler who juggled balls, knives, rings and skittles. A bit gory though was the stunt artiste’s act of putting a thick hooked stainless steel wire into his nose and pulling it out from his mouth. Thereafter the sword swallower put four half foot stainless steel swords inside his mouth, held them there before removing them one by one. During these acts the expressions of the audience were worth watching — while some looked down, others looked in awe without batting their eyelids. The children were warned not to try these at home! The mimicry artiste’s impersonation of cine stars and the dance movements of Amitabh Bach­chan, Dev Anand, Shashi Kapoor, Dhar­mendra, Sanjay Dutt, Govinda and Dada Kondke was perfect.

The Poona Parsee Panchayat felicitated candidates who had secured 70 percent and above in the school leaving and Higher Secondary Certificate examinations with mementoes and scholarships. The J. N. Petit School boys were also present at the function catered by Darius Dorabjee. The delicious kulfi was provided by Perin Dadachandji.

Khursheed Dinshaw