WAPIZ’s 6th anniversary

The World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) sixth anniversary was celebrated with a jashan performed by 270 priests led by Ervad Aspandiar Dadachanji at the Banaji Atash Behram on the morning of April 9, 2011. The venue shifted to the Rustom Baug grounds for the evening’s function, reportedly attended by over 3,000 community members. Social worker Meher Panthaki was welcomed as the new WAPIZ trustee, and as per the WAPIZ Page in The Free Press Journal of April 15, 2011, she brought in a donation of Rs 10,00,000 on the very first day of her appointment.

The four High Priests who graced the occasion were Dasturs (Dr) Firoze Kotwal, (Dr) Peshotan Mirza, Kaikhushroo Meherjirana of Navsari and Cyrus Dastur of Surat. Dastur (Dr) Kaikhusroo JamaspAsa, who was unable to attend the festivities due to ill health, sent WAPIZ a message of congratulations. Udvada High Priest Dastur Khurshed Dastoor did not attend. A plaque and a purse of one lakh rupees were presented to Ervads Pesi Udwadia (90), Sohrab Nalladaru (83), Homi Behramkamdin (80) and Manekshah Jijina (89) for tending the holy fire for over 60 years, notes the WAPIZ Page.

Also honored were Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta, trustees Jimmy Mistry and Armaity Tirandaz as well as senior counsel Rafique Dada and lawyer Percy Gandhy, Soli Dariwala for setting up the WAPIZ-Coomie Soli Dariwalla Education Fund for youngsters from the community, WAPIZ patron member and eminent ophthalmologist Dr Keiki Mehta and others. The fun and frolic followed with the evening’s finale being a scrumptious dinner catered by Tanaz Godiwala. The WAPIZ Page acknowledges the sponsorship of the function by WAPIZ chairman Areez Khambatta and trustee Yazdi Desai.