Appeal for funds

The Navsari Samast Parsi Zoroastrian General Fund has been in existence since 1872. The 138-year-old trust maintains the following properties: the Doonger-wadi compound area of 14,700 sq m and surrounding wall which is approximately 650 m in length; about 1.5 km road from the town to the tower of silence, including the 133-year-old Kaptan Bridge; two buildings of nasakhana (bungli) in Navsari.

Two towers of silence are in use — the Hormasji Mancherji Bhabha dakhma which is 184 years old and the Ratanji Nussarvanji Tata dakhma which is 132 years old. Solar panels have been installed in both. The operating and maintenance cost for the systems is approximately Rs 6,000 per month. The Doongerwadi is situated in the village of Veraval near Navsari on the banks of the Purna river. With heavy rainfall during the monsoon there is flooding and every year the compound wall is damaged. Parts of the wall lean at an incline of 25 to 45 degrees and it is broken in many places.

Every year lakhs of rupees are used for repairs to the compound wall, road, bridge, two bunglis, water pipelines, electrical wiring and fixtures, maintenance of the garden and purchase of necessities. Payments have also to be made to the employees. We also need to replace old broken cement benches, purchase new chairs, build a room which can be used as a godown and construct a pavilion. For all this, we require funds.

The trust, which helps in performing ceremonies of the last journey of Zarathushtis, appeals to all members of the community, whether residing in Navsari or elsewhere, to donate funds by way of cheque, cash or draft drawn in the name of the Navsari Samast Parsi Zoroastrian General Fund sent to 5/1649. Dasturwad, Navsari 394445.

DASTUR KEKHASHRU DASTUR MEHERJIRANA

President and Vada Dastur

Navsari Samast Parsi Zoroastrian General Fund

Navsari