ZAGA celebrates

Children of the Zarthushti Awareness Group of Ahmedabad (ZAGA) put up an enjoyable variety entertainment show at the annual day function of the Ushta-te Foundation on February 23, 2009 at the Zoroastrian Hall, Kankaria, reveals an e-mail received by Parsiana from Navroze Kanga, trustee of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat.

The event began with the singing of a monajat, followed by a welcome speech by Meher Medora, managing trustee of the Foundation which not only runs ZAGA Gatha classes but also offers other services like interest free loans for higher education and entrepreneurship as well as regular lectures at its Study Circle. In her report Minnie Patel, the Foundation’s secretary, furnished details about the trust’s activities during the previous year, as per the e-mail.

Shirin Kanga read out the citations for the three Ushta-te Foundation Awards which were presented to Utthan, an organization educating and training mentally disabled women; Kanchanben, a visually impaired lady who runs her own association for others similarly afflicted; and young achiever Shezrin V. Dutia for excellent academic achievement in winning a gold medal in her CA examination and obtaining her ICWA (Institute of Cost and Works Accountants) certificate, the e-mail reveals.

Top: Chief guest Perin Lalkaka (seated 2nd from R) with office bearers of Ushta-te Foundation Alongside: ZAGA children singing

In her address, chief guest Perin Lalkaka, who has been running the school Thumbelina since the past 35 years, motivated the youth and offered concrete suggestions to the trust. Guest of honor Hutoxi Contractor, well known for her social work especially in the USA, appreciated the efforts of the Ushta-te Foundation and promised to institute a special award in memory of her sister Khurshid from the next year. A vote of thanks was given by Dr Armaity Davar in impeccable Gujarati and in her inimitable style wherein she acknowledged the hard work and dedication of all trustees of the Foundation and of the ZAGA volunteers.

With the business part of the evening over, it was time for fun. During the next hour the ZAGA children enthralled the audience with song and dance. Evoking both appreciation and religious fervor in the onlookers was the poem Atush, by Perin Unwalla, which was enacted on the stage. A Parsi garbo was specially written and directed by Katy Daruwalla, while children trained by Ruzin Daruwala and Dilshad Guard performed a filmy group dance. There were several solo dances as well. The "Pop Corn” dance by tiny tots was a delight to watch, the credit for choreographing which goes to Perin Watchmaker and Dogdoh Doctor.

The effort of the senior group, which came on stage as Amesha Spentas along with their Humkars, was both informative as well as visually impressive, the e-mail notes. The commentary, providing details of the attributes and functions of each roz was scripted by Roshan Rao and rendered on the mike by Dilshad Sui. Compere Delnaz Jokhi informed those present about the special efforts of Cyrus Mobedji who made the placards for the Amesha Spentas and Arsheesh Commissariat who provided appropriate, soothing background music.

The evening’s entertainment culminated in a gastronomical delight, the delicious dinner leaving a "good taste” in everyone’s mouth, notes the e-mail.