Religion
A tale of two agiaries
Responses to Parsiana’s questionnaire on fire temples from Secunderabad and Panchgani
Which fire temple are you associated with?
Darab J. Bajina of Panchgani (Pan): Seth Nanabhoy Bezonji Choksi Dar-e-Meher.
Omim M. Debara of Secunderabad (Sec): The Khan Bahadur Seth Edulji Sohrabji Anjuman Dar-e-Meher.
When was the agiary structure built?
Pan: 1931.
Sec: August 8, 1920.
Is this the first home of the fire or was it housed elsewhere before? If so, where? When was it shifted?
Pan: It is the first home of the fire.
Sec: It is the first home of the fire.
When was the fire enthroned?
Pan: 1931.
Sec: August 8, 1920.
What are the main difficulties in managing a fire temple in today’s environment?
Pan: Interest on corpus fund is not sufficient to maintain the fire temple.
Sec: Nil.
Where do you obtain your kathi from?
Pan: Dist Wai, near Panchgani.
Sec: From the local market, donated by a well-wisher.
How is income generated?
Pan: Donation/interest on investments.
Sec: From conducting ceremonies, etc.
Is sufficient income earned to run and maintain the place?
Pan: No.
Sec: Yes.
How much dependence is there on donations?
Seth Nana-bhoy Bezonji Choksi Dar-e-Meher at Panchgani and The Khan Bahadur Seth Edulji Soh-rabji Anju-man Dar-e-Meher in Sec-underabad
Pan: Fifty percent of the expenses are met from donations.
Sec: Nil.
What are the main items of expenditure?
Pan: Salary, electricity and kathi.
Sec: Kathi, salary of mobeds, chasniwala, staff and maintenance.
Do people donate enough to meet expenses?
Pan: No.
Sec: Donations are not required.
How large is the corpus and what is the monthly income like?
Pan: Corpus — Rs 30 lakhs; monthly income from interest — Rs 17,500.
Sec: —
Do you have a panthaky system?
Pan: Yes.
Sec: No.
How many mobeds are employed?
Pan: One mobed and one chasni-wala.
Sec: Two.
Are mobeds available?
Pan: Yes, with difficulty.
Sec: No.
Are chasniwalas available?
Pan: Yes, with difficulty.
Sec: Yes.
How many devotees visit on a daily average?
Pan: About 10-15; in season 40-50.
Sec: 15-20.
How many muktad tables/vases are booked every year?
Pan: Five or six.
Sec: 140 vases.
Has the number increased or decreased?
Pan: Decreased.
Sec: Increased.
How many boiwallas does the fire temple have?
Pan: One.
Sec: Nil.
Have the number of devotees increased or decreased over the past 10 years?
Pan: Increased.
Sec: Increased.
Approximately how many Zoroastrians reside in the vicinity of the fire temple?
Pan: Fifty to sixty.
Sec: 800.
How many other fire temples are there nearby (one mile radius)?
Pan: None. Nearest fire temple is in Poona (100 km).
Sec: One.
What is the trust’s annual income?
Pan: Rs 2,10,000 approximately plus donations.
Sec: —
From whom do you purchase sandalwood?
Pan: Bombay.
Sec: Surat/Navsari.
What precautions has the trust taken to safeguard against any fire hazards?
Pan: Insurance.
Sec: We are located half km from the Central Fire Station.
Is security necessary at the fire temple?
Pan: Yes.
Sec: Yes.
Darab Bajina is a trustee of the Panchgani Zoroastrian Anjuman and Omim Debara is a trustee of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad.
◆ ◆ ◆
From the archive