The khushi of Cusrow Baug

The issuance of a first day cover marked the highlight of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary (SNHKA) in Cusrow Baug on February 4, 2010. Released by the director of the General Post Office, Bombay, Shobha Madhale in the presence of two of the fire temple and four Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees, the special cover and the cancellation of a stamp of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw with the Agiary signet were available on sale to the small congregation that gathered.

Karani Agiary;

"Happy to note that the SNHKA… has been helping the Zoroastrian community over the past 75 years,” a message from the President of India Pratibha Patil continued, "The Parsi community has always contributed to the cause for national development.” BPP trustee Khojeste Mistree read out her statement. "The celebration of the platinum jubilee is an occasion to re-affirm our faith (in) multiple religions and (integration) through common spiritual connectivity,” noted a message from the former president of India Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam read out by BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta.

A message from the Field Marshal’s daughter Maja Daruwala read out by volunteer Mani Vazifdar exhorted the present generation to "draw deeply from (the) foundational tenets of our religion which order us to go always toward the light and indeed to illuminate the dark places and bring light to those who are not as privileged as ourselves.”

The release of the first day cover was followed by a humbandagi led by the Agiary panthaky Ervad Yazdi Aibara, and a talk on the "Significance of the Boi ceremony in tending the holy fires” by Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza. He explained, "It is the duty of Zoroastrians to stand up and pay homage to the fire during the boi ceremony because at that time, the gah presiding angel is present, all negative forces are eliminated and the environment becomes pure. During the boi ceremony, Zoroastrians should pledge to follow the path of humata, hukhta, huvarashta (good thoughts, good words and good deeds).” Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, a Cusrow Baug resident, explained that Ardibehesht Ameshaspand is the presiding angel over the fire and every Zarthoshti must pay homage to the atash padshah.

Short speeches by the Agiary trustees Bomi Hansotia, legal tax expert Homi Ranina, Mistree and Aibara followed. Aibara spoke on the peace of mind one receives not from material gain but "dharam (religion)” and that the purpose of life on earth is the progress of the soul. Mirza released a souvenir published on the occasion of the Agiary salgirah. A commemorative silver coin priced at Rs 500 has also been minted for the occasion. In her vote of thanks Vazifdar noted that Ranina had donated five lakh rupees to the Agiary trust.

Clockwise from top: Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza and Homi Ranina; Pervez Katrak, Ratoo Dastur, Khojeste Mistree, a devotee, Dinshaw Mehta; Ervad Yazdi Aibara (clapping), Armaity Tirandaz (left) and Arnavaz Mistry; hama anjuman jashan; release of first day cover by Shobha Madhale (left) with Bomi Hansotia

Earlier in the day a Havan gah maachi was lit "on behalf of the trust,” followed by a thanksgiving jashan ceremony and a speech by Cusrow Baug resident Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal on the "Five gahs of the day.” He explained how the people of ancient Iran observed the five gahs even though they had no clocks to refer to. The gahs are reminders to Zarathushtis to remember God and to pray periodically and tend the holy fires in agiaries and atash behrams. Prior to the commemorative postal cover release a hama anjuman jashan was led by Dasturs Khurshed Dastoor, Mirza and Ervad Homyar Aibara, Yazdi’s brother, followed by the playing of the national anthem.

The three other trustees of the fire temple are Jamshed Guzder (chairman), Dr Philly Karani and Darius Karani. BPP trustees Arnavaz Mistry and Armaity Tirandaz also graced the function.

The occasion also marked the 163rd birthday of the fire "which had originally been founded at Nizam Street, Null Bazar on March 16, 1847 (and) had to be shifted to Sodawaterwalla Agiary opposite Marine Lines Railway Station because the population of Parsis declined from the area of Null Bazar due to communal riots,” noted a write-up prepared in 1985 by the former and some present trustees of the Agiary in a letter addressed to Neville Wadia whose family built Cusrow Baug.

When Sir Ness Wadia and Sir Cusrow Wadia gave 1,400 square yards of land in the colony for the construction of the fire temple, the fire was shifted on February 23, 1935. "The fire temple was constructed under the supervision of architects Gregson Batley and King on the style of Iranian, Syrian and Babylonian architecture,” noted the then trustees.

Before the installation of the fire the then governor of Bombay Presidency, Lord Brabourne and his wife visited the Dare-e-Meher building at the invitation of Sir Ness Wadia.

Of the colony’s 2,000 residents in around 554 flats, a little over 100 attended the evening function. SNHKA managing trustee Hansotia, when asked by Parsiana about the small turnout, bemoaned the indifference of the Baug residents. Of those that gathered several were from outside the colony.

Cusrow Baug was also in the news recently when an auction for a second floor, three bedroom flat of around 1,500 sq ft on a leave and license basis in a building without a lift, fetched a bid of Rs 6,18,00,000. Perhaps another reason to celebrate the beneficence of the consecrated fire.