Training helper priests

Having successfully conducted seven residential refresher programs at The M. F. Cama Athornan Institute at Andheri, the Ex-Students Association of the Institute approached the chairman and trustees of the madressa to permit them to train behdin pasbaans (helper priests) to perform ceremonies and rituals during their eighth program. Though initially cautious, the trustees referred the matter to the high priests and religious scholars before they assented to this novel proposition. And thereby was born the Eighth Residential Refresher Programme for Ostas and Ervads and the First Residential Workshop for Behdin Pasbaans, conducted at the madressa from May 3-15, 2009, as per a write-up received by Parsiana from Ervad Homie Gowadia.

The jashan at the opening ceremony on May 3 was led by Ervad Jamshed Bhesadia, a former student of the Institute. Chief guest Com Aspi Marker (Retd) of the Indian Navy appreciated the efforts of the Ex-Students Association in training ostas and ervads, as well as behdin pasbaans since so many agiaries in the rural areas have closed down due to a shortage of clergy. In many places the premises are used by non-Parsis and some do not even have the atash padshah, which is shameful, Marker said. Graduates of programs like this one would be able to give their services to revive our atash padshah sahibs in remote places, he added. Commending the founder Seth Merwanji Cama for establishing such a magnificent Institute for training in priesthood, Marker stressed that it is the duty of the present generation to maintain this legacy, Gowadia writes.

As per guidelines laid down by the high priests, behdin pasbaans were trained to perform religious ceremonies along with the athornan participants. Helper priests can perform the afringan and jashan, farokhshi, satum, four-day death ceremonies such as geh sarna and uthamna as well as boi ceremony at unconsecrated dadgah sahibs. The scholars who tutored the participants during the fortnight-long program included Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza and Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, both high priests of Udvada’s Iranshah, Dr Homi Dhalla, Ervad (Dr) Keki Turel, Ervads Khushru Panthaky, Aspandiar Dadachanji, Parvez Bajan, Keki Ravji, Cyrus Darbari, Pervez Mithaiwalla and Pirojshah Sidhva. Also part of the team were Rustom Chothia, Aban Sethna, Daizy Navdar and Dr Sam Doctor, Gowadia notes.

In addition to religious education, the participants were taught the lost art of making daran, papdi, malido, bhakhra, koprapak, etc, which would stand them in good stead when they take up mobedi or pasbaani in India or abroad. The athornans were taught how to tie the pugree, perform the baaj dharna, marriage and navjote ceremonies and nahan along with the general outlines of high liturgical ceremonies like yazashne, visparad, vendidad, nirangdin as well as the consecration of various fires for the atash adaran and atash behram.

Panels from the Frohar Foundation’s Exhibition on Zoroastrian History, Culture and Religious Ceremonies were displayed at the madressa. A dental camp, medical and eye check-ups of all participants was conducted free of cost by Dr Arnavaz Havewalla, Dr Pervin Desai and specialists from Dr Kulin Kothari’s Bombay City Eye Institute and Research Centre. Ervad Marzban Mani, a former student of the madressa taught the participants self-defence tactics and some aspects of disaster management.

The jashan ceremony on May 15, the closing day, was led by Mirza, who also presided. The keynote speaker at the valedictory function was Ervad Yazdi Aibara. The madressa’s Assembly Hall was packed with Zoroastrian scholars, former students of the Institute and a large number of co-religionists. Cash prizes, religious books and other gifts were given to the participants, while rotating trophies for the Best Ervad, Osta and Behdin Pasbaan Participants were awar­ded in memory of Keki Kerawala.

Gowadia concludes with a word of thanks to the sponsors, Bombay Parsi Punchayet chairman emeritus Jamshed Guzder, Cyrus Guz­der, Ervad Jamshed Bhe­sadia, Justice Shahrukh Katha­walla, Firoz Se­thna, Silloo Mahava, Tanaz Kerawala, Perviz Surti of Fred Travels and Ervad Soli Dastur of the USA. Trusts like the Maneckji Nowrozjee Seth Charities, Zoroastrian Winter Relief Fund (Kumi Daroowala), Naterwala Foundation, World Zara­thushti Cultural Foundation, Katgara Foundation and others were appreciated for their continued support over the years in conducting the programs.