Sanjan Day celebrations

Celebrations for Sanjan Day on November 18, 2008, mah Tir, roz Bahman, commenced with two jashans, one performed by the vada dasturs of Udvada, Dasturs Khurshed Dastoor and (Dr) Peshotan Mirza along with other priests from Udvada, and another by priests from Nargol and Saronda, reveals a write-up forwarded to Parsiana by Bapsy Rohintan Daviervala, president of the Sanjan Memorial Column Local Committee (SMCLC).

Present at the occasion were chief guest Dr Mehroo Bengalee, member of the National Minorities Commission, trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), senior priests, important guests and over 1,300 enthusiastic Zoroastrians. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw who had in the past been chief guest at Sanjan Day celebrations and Gustasp Jussawalla, treasurer of the SMCLC who had expired a few weeks earlier.

A special feature of the function was a performance by children of Ervad Nozer Mehenty of Bombay’s H. B. Wadia Atas Bahram. Rooyintan, just five years old and his sister Shahrever, who is seven, displayed karate moves that enthralled the audience with their skill and endurance.

Bengalee explained to those present the benefits Zoroastrians can avail of under the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme. She urged students passing out of school to join Parsi commercial institutions and receive training as such institutions offer a Parsi environment, ethos and work ethic, along with the opportunity to get employment. She voiced concern over defunct anjumans all over India whose lands have been taken over by the government. If such lands can be retrieved, the community would be better off by several crore rupees. Any case of encroachment on Parsi lands should be immediately brought to her notice so that she could take steps to recover it, she offered as per the write-up. She also bemoaned the fact that there is not a single Zoroastrian representative in Parliament.

Top row: August gathering at Sanjan; Second row (from l): Dotivala, Tirandaz, Najafy, Paricheher Daviervala, karateka Rooyintan Mehenty and the Sanjan Stambh

In his speech Dastoor stated that Iranshah, now located in Udvada, was consecrated in Sanjan and priests from Udvada come to Sanjan every year to perform a jashan ceremony. He expressed gratitude to the late Rohintan Daviervala for forming the Sanjan Day Committee in 1980 and starting these functions. The Nine Kutumb Athornan Anjuman which, along with the two vada dasturs, has been taking care of the Iranshah for over 250 years will continue to do so, brooking no interference from any quarter, he stated, as per the write-up.

Mirza harked back to the promise made to mythical King Jadi Rana that we shall be the friends of all Indians. He said that our ancestors progressed because we have always protected our community and religion. The Parsi population is dwindling because of late marriages, no marriages and mixed marriages. For the population to increase our youth must be trained for the right profession at the right age and given facilities for self-employment and housing so that they can marry at the right age and expand their families. The BPP trustees should act as leaders, analyze problems and frame solutions within the tenets of our religion, customs and traditions, he opined.

The BPP chairman reiterated that we left Iran 1,300 years ago in order to save our religion, customs and traditions, which we will be able to do thanks to the community having elected for the first time under the universal adult franchise scheme a board with traditional-minded persons. Where housing is concerned, topmost priority will be given to engaged-to-be-married couples. Even out-of-turn allotments will be given for them, Mehta assured.

The write-up mentions that trustee Rustom Tirandaz said that the Parsi Irani community, being equidistant from other communities, is acceptable to all and is in a position to lead the country. From this Sanjan Day to the next, this will be the year of the Parsis, Tirandaz announced, a year in which we will not be critical of others nor indulge in character assassination. It was their first ever visit to Sanjan for BPP trustees Arnavaz Mistry and Khojeste Mistree. The former expressed her earnestness to provide education and housing to youngsters while Mistree felt that religious education should be imparted to children as it gives a value system. Anahita Desai apologized for the absence of her husband, BPP trustee Yazdi, and said that he would continue to dedicate his life for the community. Jimmy Mistry, who was abroad, was represented by Prof Faredoon Kapadia. Godrej Dotivala, public relations officer of the BPP said that though several institutions had been founded and funded by Parsis, we do not have any reserved seats, a situation that Bengalee is trying to amend. The BPP has managed to get a few seats reserved in a Bangalore institution imparting education in dentistry and other medical sciences.

Dr Karim Najafy, cultural councilor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi said, "We come here to share the happiness on this auspicious day.” He congratulated the new BPP team and the chief guest, while Dr Meher Master-Moos invoked the blessings of Ahura Mazda on all and recalled the contribution of Rohintan Daviervala.

Dara Varvadawala thanked the chief guest, the chairman and trustees of the BPP, the high priests and members of the audience for coming from far and near to grace the occasion. He also expressed gratitude to senior staff members of the BPP, Mehli Colah, Cawas Panthaky and Dotivala. Appreciative mention was made of the Western Railway, for granting special stops for the Gujarat Express and Flying Ranee at Sanjan, the write-up notes. Feroze Sethna was thanked for supplying cold drinks, the Dotivalas of Surat for their cakes, Paris and Agnee Bakery for their milk, cold drinks and biscuits, and Manek Tadiwala for an excellent lunch. The beautiful rangoli decorations by Suniti Karulkar were also appreciated.