Institution of khandhias

In another 10 years it will be extremely difficult to get khandhias or nassessalars to work because their sons are being educated. At present a khandhia receives emoluments up to Rs 12,000 per month, which is a good salary considering that they work a maximum of four or five hours a day. However, the horrendous conditions within the dakhmas are the single largest deterrent to any educated young man taking up the profession.

It is high time the Parsis of Bombay, Poona and elsewhere where there are full-time khandhias read the writing on the wall and learn to carry their near and dear ones into the dakhmas, as is done in the smaller anjumans.

Also, we continue the obnoxious practice of refusing to show the face of Parsi corpses to non-Parsis after the sachkar and geh sarna are done. The reason given is most illogical — that the corpses will be defiled by the gaze of a non-Parsi!

Our kash khenchwani (creating a boundary by passing an iron nail around the corpse) and geh sarna ceremonies are meant to keep all evil spirits at bay and help the transmigration of the soul. If a non-Parsi’s gaze pollutes a corpse, our prayers would be totally worthless, which they are not.

B. T. DASTUR