Divinity at Dadar

"Please switch off your phone, only then will you be able to take God’s call,” a senior citizen advises a youngster in an agiary. "In all the calling business you forgot to call on God?” a young girl reprimands her friend for giving priority to other tasks instead of visiting the agiary earlier in the day on her birthday. "You can spend three hours at a party but not 10 minutes in an agiary?” the priest asks a devotee who makes a flying trip to the agiary.

These single line powerful deliveries by young children, presenting in a humorous way some codes of conduct to be observed in an agiary, conveyed to the audience a meaningful message at the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Seth R. N. Rustom Faramna Agiary on October 30, 2009.

"The Dadar Parsi Colony, the largest conglomerate of Zoroastrians in the world, is indeed very lucky to have such a serene fire temple in our midst,” pointed out master of ceremonies Mahiyar Dastoor recapitulating how the Agiary had won the Urban Heritage Award in 2003 presented by the India Heritage Society — Mumbai. The Agiary was also privileged to have the Rustom Faramna Agiary Chowk, at the intersection of Khareghat Road and Mancherji Joshi Road, named after it on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. He further added, "Through this flame we have communicated with God and the Prophet… We as a community would do well to remember that so long as we keep the faith we can be assured of a continuous ascent upward.”

"We are grateful to the Atash Padshah for giving protection, blessings and divine energy to all of us for so many years,” remarked one of the young children of the Dharmagnyan Class run by the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust. Altogether there were more than 50 children of the Dharmagnyan Class on stage who rendered a welcome song and a monajat O Khuda tu ék chhè.

Dastur Khurshed Dastoor who had earlier led the congregation in a hum-bandagi, subsequently delivered a keynote address on "The veneration of the holy fire through the ages.” Specifying that we are not fire worshipers but God worshipers, he referred to the four fires — Adar Khor­dad introduced during the Pe­sh­dadian dynasty by King Hoshang, Adar Farnbag during King Jamshed’s time until the Sasanian ruler Ardeshir Papakan, Adar Gushasp during the Kayanian dynasty under King Kaikhusru and King Lohrasp, and Adar Burzin Meher brought by Prophet Zarathushtra. The first atash behram was built by the Sasanian King Ardeshir Papakan to mark his victory in battle. "For 700 years there was only a single fire temple in India,” venerated as the Iranshah, stated the High Priest of Udvada, adding that it was only from the 14th century onwards "when we spread in Gujarat” that fire temples mushroomed. He urged the gathering to regard the fire enthroned on a pedestal as "a king, who is a friend, philosopher and guide.”

Clockwise from above left: Rusi Jassawalla, Zenobia and Boman Irani; Ervad Kaizad Karkaria; facade of the Seth R. N. Rustom Faramna Agiary (Photo: Jasmine D. Driver); on the dais, Farokh Engineer, Hoshang Sinor, Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, Furzeen and Nasha Jassawalla, Khurshed Dastoor, Jimmy Mistry, Phiroze Tarapore, Dinshaw Tamboly, Mithoo Jesia, Ervad Kaizad Karkaria and Mahiyar Dastoor

The Rustom Faramna Agiary was consecrated on April 14, 1929, mah Avan, roz Adar on 2,000 sq yards of land. It was built in memory of Rustomji and his wife Putlibai, daughter of Mancherji Merwanji Jussawalla, according to a write-up in Marzban Giara’s Global Directory of Zoroastrian Fire Temples. For the construction of this Agiary Rs 30,000 was donated in memory of Faramji Pallonji Mistry and his mother Pirojbai Pallanji Bawisiwalla and Rs 20,000 towards the maintenance fund in memory of Faramji Mistry and his wife Dhunbai. "One of the most picturesque fire temples,” according to Giara, distinguishing it is "a sweeping verandah having circular columns with double bull capitals. The central arched portico forms its dominating feature. Its ornamental compound gate enhances the beauty of the structure.”

Dastur Faramarz N. Kutar and Dastur Kaikhushru M. Kutar were appointed panthakies at the inception of the Agiary. Ervad Ratanshah C. Panthaky served the Agiary for over 50 years, followed by Ervad Faredoon K. Kutar. Serving the needs of the residents of the Colony, the Agiary hall is a favorite venue for religious lectures, meetings and functions, and is a center of initiation for young Parsi priests.

The implicit faith and the explicit largesse manifested by the community, particularly the Dadarites, resulted in the 2009 fund raising effort generating Rs 20,75,222, announced Mithoo Jesia on behalf of the Agiary trustees. Just their raffle earned over Rs 4,00,000. Besides Jesia the others on the trust board are chairman emeritus Rusi Jassawalla, his son Nasha who as chairman and managing trustee warmly welcomed the gathering, Nasha’s wife Furzeen, Phiroze Tarapore, Dinshaw Tamboly, Jimmy Mistry and Hoshang Sinor. Joining them on the dais were Ervad Ramiyar Karanjia, principal of the Dadar Athornan Institute (madressa), and former Test cricketer Farokh Engineer. As part of the oak (80th) anniversary celebrations the trustees have decided to institute a cash award of Rs 25,000 to be conferred to the most outstanding madressa student every year.

Responding to skeptics who question ‘Paisa ni soo jaroor chhè?’ ‘Agiary palace jévi chhè,’ Jesia explained that the credit for the Agiary’s aesthetic appeal should go to architect Mistry who spent "Rs 28 lakhs without batting an eyelid…” Instead of falling back on his magnanimity each time, the trustees felt the need to be self-sufficient. "Kaal kauné joieech (Who knows what tomorrow will bring)?”

She referred to the largesse of the sponsors Zarine and Yazdi Daruvala Trust, the WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trust, Hilla Builders and a well-wisher who contributed Rs 3,50,000 towards the event. The House of Godrej donated Rs 1,20,000, Union Press printed the souvenir free of cost, acknowledged Jesia. Whilst appreciating the major financial contributors, Jesia did not forget to thank the manager of the Agiary Ervad Kaizad Karkaria, the chasniwallas, mali, rama — "all the staff who are one big family” — plus the Parsi volunteers who worked on the scaffolding to clean the gumbaz from the top, the priests and behdins who pray there regularly.

Floral tributes were presented to Member of Parliament Eknath Rao Gaikwad and municipal councilor from Dadar Raghunath Thawai whom Jesia and her team find ever cooperative. As jocularly remarked Bollywood actor Boman Irani in the course of his entertaining interlude, "Half the audience is wearing a garland…” To instill optimism in the audience he sang The Impossible Dream and Aashaein. Interspersed were a lot of humorous anecdotes to demonstrate the Parsi/Irani divide which was once pronounced but is now getting blurred: The naïve early Irani migrants to Bombay, mistaking the oil tank at Sewri for a dakhma, nudged each other to "pagé par (pay obeisance)…” While his Parsi father-in-law was wont to dividing his packet of biscuits with a knife, his Irani son would break a brun (bread) with his bare hands… While a Parsi sips his drink from a glass, an Irani goes straight to the bottle… A hardcore Irani drinker when forced to consult Dr Farokh Udwadia was given the verdict, "Tamaru liver jaraa motu chhè (your liver is enlarged).” Unfazed the Irani replied, "Thank God…Numo Khodu (with God’s blessings)!”

Some more spice to liven up the evening came from Roshan and Dinyar Tirandaz’s Centre Stage Productions who presented the skit Caterer no kaklat. Marazban Mehta and Marazban Wadia round-ed up the evening with lively Parsi songs while the guests enjoyed Tanaz Godiwalla’s repast.