Continuing curriculum

"Today I stand before you a more knowledgeable child. Knowledgeable in our Parsi reet-rivaj (traditions), tarikats (rituals) and customs,” said 10-year-old Osta Farzad Driver, speaking at the valedictory function of the 10th Residential Refresher Programme for Ostas and Ervads and 3rd Residential Workshop for Behdin Pasbaans.

Guiding lights of the Refresher course Ervads Cyrus Dastoor (left) and Hormazdiar Gowadia

Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza of Udvada, who was the keynote speaker, led the jashan on the closing day, May 21, 2011. His talk on Sarosh Yazad was informative and well appreciated. Chief guest Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Yazdi Desai, who was accompanied by his wife Anahita, was impressed by the Ex-Students’ Association’s program. He congratulated coordinators Ervads Hormazdiar Gowadia, Pirojshah Sidhva and Cyrus Dastoor for their dedicated service to the community and felt that many more Zoroastrians should take advantage of such a unique program. Desai showed his appreciation by giving the Association a personal donation of Rs 50,000.

Cash prizes, gift items, religious books, etc were presented to the participants. In the rotating trophies for the Best Ervad Participant, Best Osta Participant and Best Behdin Pasbaan awarded in memory of Keki Kerawala, Adil Rangoonwalla was declared the best overall behdin pasbaan, Ervads Barzin Katrak, the best ervad (seniors) and Jehan Darbari in the junior category.

The enthusiastic participants engaged in various competitions, where the winners for bhantar (seniors) were Marazban Wadia, Rangoonwalla and Marzban Giara who came first, second and third respectively. In the junior category Darbari came first, Zubin Fanibanda, second and Driver, third. In the religious quiz for seniors Ervad Rayomand Motafaram walked away with the first prize with Giara and Ervad Adiba Dadiba Govadia coming second and third respectively. Their counterparts among the juniors were Darbari, Neville Elavia and Yazad Fanibanda. Rangoonwalla stood first in the written test, followed by Giara while Wadia came third. In the junior category the first three places were taken by Darbari, Driver and Katrak. They even had a table tennis competition! Each and every participation received a cash prize of Rs 1,000 on behalf of the late Jamshed Guzder, chairman emeritus of the BPP.

The Ex-Students’ Association expressed gratitude to sponsors Cyrus Guzder, Ervad Jamshed Bhesadia, Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla, Firoz Sethna, Tanaz Kerawala, Perviz Surti of Fred Travels, Ervad Soli Dastur of the USA, trusts like the Maneckji Nowrozjee Seth Charities, Zoroastrian Winter Relief Fund run by Kumi Daroowala, Neterwala Foundation, Katgara Foundation, etc and other donors for their continued support over the years in conducting this program. The chairman and trustees of The M. F. Cama Athornan Institute were thanked for permitting the program to be conducted on their premises and the Parsi Press for its support. All present then repaired for dinner, notes a write-up sent to Parsiana by the Ex-Students’ Association.

This year saw 18 enrollments: seven ervads, five ostas and six behdin pasbaans, the youngest being Driver. Others included an IT engineer, an Iranian… One participant took 15 days’ leave from his work to be part of the program, mentioned Dastoor, the moving spirit behind the program.

(Left) The young and old participants with their music teacher Viraf Daruwalla; (right) enthusiastic behdin pasbaans (from left) Adil Rangoonwalla, Marzban Giara, Marazban Wadia and Naval Surti

Organized by the Ex-Students’ Association of The M. F. Cama Athornan Institute from May 8 to 21, 2011 at the Institute’s premises in Andheri, its aim is to impart education on the religion and its ceremonies whereby character is formed, the intellect expanded and participants are enabled to stand on their own feet to guide the community on the right path. It was dedicated to the far-sighted founder Seth Merwanji Mancherji Cama who had anticipated the present day scenario and stated in the trust deed (over 80 years ago) that when athornan children would not be available for training, the trust should endeavor to impart religious knowledge and rituals to the Zoroastrian laity, the behdin pasbaan. Indeed, the number of athornan trainees has dwindled at the Madressa over the past decade and a half, resulting in the influx of a new crop of priests who are not fully trained. The Ex-Students’ Association has taken up the challenge to not only hone the skills of such adhura (half-trained) mobeds but also to refresh the knowledge of full-time practicing priests and even behdin pasbaans, mentions the write-up.

The inaugural function had Cmde Aspi Marker as chief guest. While appreciating the efforts of the Association he said that there are many agiaries in remote areas which have been closed down. Some are being used by non-Parsis and do not have the atash padshah, which is most shameful. The ostas, ervads and behdin pasbaans trained here can offer their services to revive our atash padshahs in remote areas, he urged. He also spoke glowingly of the magnificent Institute for athornans and exhorted the present generation to maintain this legacy.

In the course of their training the behdin pasbaans were taught the Hoshmordi ceremonies. They can perform the afringan, jashan, farokshi, stum, four-days after death ceremonies such as geh sarna and uthamna as well as boi ceremonies for unconsecrated dadgahs, along with athornan participants, the write-up mentions. They were also taught the dying art of making darun, papdi, malido and bhakhras, etc which may stand them in good stead when they take up mobedi in remote areas or abroad. Pugree tying, the baj dharna ceremony, how to perform the nahan, navjote and marriage ceremonies, general outline of high liturgical ceremonies like yazashne, visparad, vendidad, nirangdin and consecration of various fires for atash adaran and atash behram were also part of the curriculum.

Below, from left: Dastur Peshotan Mirza awarding Best Overall Behdin Pasbaan rotating trophy to Adil Rangoonwalla; Best Ervad trophy winners Jehan Darbari (juniors) and Barzin Katrak (seniors)

Sharing their expertise were Zoroastrian scholars who tutored the participants during the fortnight long program: Dasturs Kaikhushro N. Meherjirana of Navsari and Dr Firoze Kotwal, Ervads Asphandiar Dadachanji, Parvez Bajan, Cyrus Darbari, Yazdi Aibara, Pervez Mithaiwalla, Sidhva, Dastoor and Farhiz Panthaky. The participants also benefited from the wisdom of lay scholars like Dr Homi Dhalla, Rustom Chothia, Aban Sethna, Noshir Dadrawalla, Parvez Daruwalla, Hutoxi Doodhwalla, BPP trustee Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Munsif.

Religious fervor was fanned with a trip to the four atash behrams in Bombay and a tour of the holy Iran­shah Atash Behram in Udvada while the "fun aspect” was enjoyed at Della Adventure in Lonavla, courtesy BPP trustee Jimmy Mistry. Free medical, dental and opthalmological tests were provided by eminent doctors in these fields. Well known eye surgeon Dr Keiki Mehta performed a couple of operations on beneficiaries, mentions the write-up.

(With inputs from Roxan A. Driver)