“Fending fire”

That Dastur Nadirshah Unvalla of Bangalore "was granted a second life” is indeed God’s grace ("Fending fire,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, December 21, 2005).

In no fire temple does one see a burning diva placed on the ground. If Udvada is the vatican of the Parsis and the practice there is to be emulated, no diva is allowed in the sanctum sanctorum or even in the adjoining hall except to light the hall at night using divas placed in heritage, priceless, crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling. This is rightly so, to maintain the dignity of the sacred fire burning bright in its full majesty. A diva would pale into insignificance in its presence.

One wonders why living in the 21st century, it does not occur to us that every time we light a diva irreplaceable life-giving oxygen is destroyed. Countless number of divas are lighted to burn aimlessly, aloof, in a secluded corner causing pollution when we congregate in large numbers for a humbandagi at the Banaji Atash Behram every Monday evening. Of late such places of worship for different days of the week have multiplied! Can we imagine the aggregate damage caused against nature?

Again the oil burnt is mostly vegetable cooking oil depriving some poor of his sustenance. Some guidance from our high priests is needed by the laity on this aspect.

KEKI R. HATHI