Bombay’s oldest agiaries

The two oldest agiaries in Bombay cele-brated their salgirah on the same day, April 24, 2008, roz Adar, mah Adar, which incidentally is also the salgirah of Udvada’s Iranshah. Banaji Limji Agiary, the city’s oldest fire temple entered its 300th year on that day, while the Maneckji Nowroji Sett Agiary in Bazaar Gate Street, the second oldest, celebrated its 275th anniversary.

Located in a side street called Banaji Lane in the Fort area, the ancient fire temple consecrated in 1709 by Seth Banaji Limji, a prosperous Parsi businessman is the oldest surviving agiary in Bombay. Three jashans were performed on its salgirah this year and staff members were presented with token gifts by the trustees on that day.

At the M. N. Sett Agiary panthaky Ervad Noshirwan Kanga led two jashans to celebrate the occasion, in the morning and in the evening, as per a write-up sent to Parsiana by A. K. Cooper, secretary to The Maneckji Nowroji Sett Charities. The cultural program which followed the evening’s jashan was inaugurated by Ervad Burjor Antia, chairman of the board of trustees, and attended by over 100 Parsis present in the hall. Children from the Avabai Petit Girls’ High School, Bandra, led by Yasmin Charna, sang monajats which had the audience clapping their hands and singing along.

Celebrations at the M. N. Sett Agiary (clockwise from left): Avabai Petit School girls singing monajats; Dr Homi Dhalla and Ervad Burjor Antia (in pugrees) listening to singer Marzban Mehta; a section of the audience

Ervad (Dr) Roointan Peer enlightened those present about the history of the Sett family and the setting up of the Agiary. Dr Homi Dhalla, president of the World Zarathushti Cultural Foundation spoke on Parsi culture and screened a film illustrating its various aspects. Trustee Rustom Vakil stressed the need for better utilization of infrastructural facilities established by our forefathers for enhancing interaction and promoting knowledge of customs, cultural attributes and religious matters, as per the write-up. The evening was brought to a close with bonhomie and the serving of light refreshments.