Dehmiris for Dadysett

It is the pious duty of every Zoroastrian with means to contribute towards the upkeep of an agiary, reiterated Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal, commending the dedication of Gustad Dehmiri and his family in getting the dadgah region of the Dadysett Agiary in Bombay’s Fort area renovated last year. The rooftop of the entire dadgah area of this heritage structure had to be replaced, the tiles relaid, and the woodwork of the doors and windows repaired, as notes a press release. Although the cost of the project far exceeded the sum initially estimated, Dehmiri, a partner of Café Leopold and Café Universal, remained committed to his obligation, undertaken with devotion and sincerity of purpose.

Within a period of eight months the dadgah unit was reopened for religious use with a jashan ceremony on June 5, 2005 in the presence of Kotwal, Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza, other panthakies and mobeds, trustees and devotees of the Agiary.

Thanking Dehmiri for "the enormous contribution you have made to our Agiary,” the managing trustee of the Dadysett Charity Trust, Ratan Lalkaka wrote, "The aged dadgah now looks clean and new and has yet retained its heritage looks due to your efforts and diligence. I am sure that all the worshippers who pray at this place will also be very happy to see the great change.”

Thrity and Gustad Dehmiri undertook this holy work at the Agiary in memory of their deceased parents Keshwar and Faramarz Dehmiri, and Parkhanda and Aspandiar Azarmi. In 2000 Dehmiri had got the Umrigar Dar-e-meher in Uran renovated with the help of other like-minded Zoroastrians, adds the release. The unassuming Dehmiri only hopes that similar charitably inclined Zoroastrians might take inspiration from his mission and thus help in the maintenance of religious shrines.

The centrally located Dadysett Agiary is a favorite of many office goers and is most patronized by the Irani Zoroastrians who follow the Kadmi calendar.