Valsad agiary celebrations

The renovated Navroji Jehangirji Gamadia Agiary at Nana Parsiwad, Valsad wore a festive look on its 95th anniversary. As per a write-up from Marzban Giara, the celebrations began with a jashan on October 14, 2006, held in the historic room where the sacred Iranshah fire had been kept during its journey from Navsari to Udvada in 1741-1742 AC. A plaque commemorating this historic event is affixed there. Ervad Aspandiar Dadachanji of Bombay’s Vachaghandhy Agiary, who had specially come to Valsad for this occasion, led the jashan ceremony. Ervad Sorabji Sanjana served this Agiary from 1932 to 1990. The present panthaky is Ervad Zarir Sanjana.

That evening, at a well attended function organized at Bejan Baug, Bomi Mehernose, trustee of the Valsad Parsi Anjuman Trust Funds introduced Dadachanji to the Parsis of Valsad. Sam Chothia, managing trustee of the Anjuman, spoke of how the late Jehangir Ruttonjee succeeded in business and the late Banoobai Ruttonjee started the Rustomji Master Trust through whose donation the Mota Parsiwad Agiary and Nana Parsiwad Agiary have been renovated. As per Giara’s write-up, income from the same fund is utilized to give financial, medical and educational aid to Parsis not only in Valsad but other cities as well.

Trustees of the Valsad Anjuman and the local Zoroastrian Youth Association (ZYA) felicitated Dadachanji and Bejan Vapiwala with shawl and flowers. In his talk on "Buoi ceremony at an atash behram” Dadachanji explained how 16 types of fires from different sources are collected, purified and consecrated which necessitate the performance of as many as 1,128 ijashne and vendidad ceremonies after which the sacred fire is ceremoniously enthroned in an atash behram. Ervad Harvesp Sanjana demonstrated the buoi ceremony using the afarganyu, chipyo, chamach and bell, to commentary by Dadachanji.

Valsad’s N. J. Gamadia Agiary: renovated at 95

Navaz Sukheshwalla, ZYA vice president provided details of the project undertaken by the Association to bring out a directory of Valsad Parsis. There are 729 Parsis in that city at present. Anjuman trustee Ardeshir Contractor proposed a vote of thanks. Roshan Chothia ably compered the function which ended with a delicious dinner catered by Rohinton Kumana.

Those wishing to make donations to this Agiary may send them by a/c payee cheque favoring "Valsad Parsi Anjuman Trust Funds,” Bejan Baug, Bunder Road, Valsad, Gujarat, 395001, the press release adds.