BPA’s contests

Over 300 participants ranging in age between three and 80 years took part in the 88th prayer, kusti weaving and spinning competitions organized by The Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsi Charitable Institution on February 17, 2008, as per a write-up sent to Parsiana by Vispi Dastur, president and Tehmina Peer, honorary general secretary of the Association. The competitions were sponsored by Shahrukh Kathawalla and prizes, including the Nawaz Jimmy Kathawalla prizes, will be handed out at the next BPA annual function.

The prayer competitions, which were organized gradewise for school going children, with additional groupings created for those between the ages of 20-40 and those above 40, were judged by eminent athornans and others, as per the write-up. Separate groups were also created for madressa students and non-madressa navars and maratabs. The kusti weaving and spinning competitions were judged by Dolly Desai of Navsari. All participants were provided snacks and chocolates, while the kusti weavers were additionally given tea, lunch and to and fro taxi fare, the write-up informs.

Top row: Kusti spinning and prayer contests; (bottom) Vispi Dastur speaks at BPA function

A small function in the afternoon began with a humbandagi by the Dadar Athornan Madressa students. Dastur welcomed the athornans, chief guest Mahrukh Noble, guest of honor advocate Azmin Irani, judges, religious teachers including Ratamai Peer and others, as per the write-up. Floral tributes were offered to the dignitaries and judges. Sponsor Kathawalla spoke in detail about the kusti weaving competition held in Navsari. Ervads Darius P. Bajan and Yezdi N. Aibara elaborated on the performance of the participants, while Aloo Shroff, joint honorary secretary, BPA read out the list of prize winners and Peer proposed a vote of thanks.

The function concluded to the ringing chorus of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti sung by the girls of the Bai Avabai Petit School with the others joining in, the write-up says.