First year death ceremonies

The performing of after death rituals is an integral part of the Zoroastrian religion, as they are meant for the comfort of the soul of the deceased, making it feel loved and remembered. It is the duty and obligation of the near and dear ones of the deceased to have these ceremonies performed at least for the first year.

The Association for the Performance of the First Year Necessary Death Ceremonies of Parsi Zoroastrians is a registered society formed in 1942 for those who did not have anybody to do the needful. The Association believed in limiting expenditure by avoiding ostentatious ceremonies.

The services of the Association are especially meant for those who are unmarried, or married persons who do not have children, or those who have children who live abroad and are unable to have the rituals performed. In such cases the trust takes on the responsibility of having the rituals performed for those who register with them, once the trust is notified of the demise of the person. There is a need for awareness about such schemes in our community.

The Association was actively patronized till the 1990s, after which it did not take any new members. It has now been decided to revive the Association as a need for its services is felt by community members who do not have immediate family members to have the ceremonies performed for them. Since there was an already existing scheme, the trustees were requested to revive it.

Some new trustees have been incorporated in the Association after its revival. They are from the religious and ritual field, as well as accountants, lawyers and bankers. Among the present board of trustees are Ervads (Dr) Rami­yar P. Karanjia, Asphandiar Dada­chanji and Tehmasp Mogul as well as Aspi Engineer, Limji Nanabhoy, Shernaz Mehta and Maneck Kalyani­wala. Ervad Pakzad Katpitia, panthaky of the Mithaiwala Agiary looks after the day-to-day workings of the scheme. The annual general meeting of the Association was held on July 9, 2011, which was attended by a number of Zarathushtis.

One can join the Association by paying a nominal membership fee of Rs 51. If one desires to have the after death ceremonies done, a form needs to be collected from the trust’s office at Mithaiwala Agiary Compound, Jehangir Daji Street, Grant Road (West), filled with the necessary details and returned to the office.

Two options are available. In the first option, which costs Rs 25,000, the following rituals will be performed: sachkar, bhoi aagal bhantar, ver-e-verni baaj, geh saarnu, Sarosh na karda, afternoon uthamna, charum ni baaj, shiav with utensils, night uthamna, Daham Yazad, afargan farokshi, three satums, afargan, baj, farokshi, and one satum from the fifth to the ninth day, afargan, baj, farokshi and one satum for dasma, afargan, baj, farokshi and three satums for siroja with shiav, afargan, baj, farokshi and three satums for masiso, afargan, baj, farokshi and one satum every month, chhamsi as per masiso with shiav, varsi as per masiso with shiav, farokshi on mah Farvardin, roz Farvardin, 10 days muktad in anjuman afargan, baj, farokshi and the karasiyo will be provided by the Association.

In the second option of Rs 40,000, additional rituals of afargan, baj, farokshi and three satums will be done on parab and Farvardin roz every month and a vendidad any time during the year, as soon as possible after death. Every two to three years these charges will be suitably modified keeping in mind the prevailing rates for new members. However, no extra money will be charged from members who have joined the scheme earlier and have already paid.

In performing these death rituals, the Association will follow the existing standards and traditions laid down by the high priests of the community. If a person expires at any place, whether in Bombay or outside, where there is a dakhma, after death rituals for the first four days will be performed only if the body is consigned to the dakhma. If a person dies in a place where there is no dakhma, and is cremated or buried, the first four day death rituals will be performed by the Association. There is no restriction against that. The restriction for not performing first four day rituals is only when a body is cremated or buried where a dakhma is available.

At present the services of the Association are restricted to Bombay. If, in future, a need is felt, other places will be considered. The ceremonies will be performed at a few select fire temples where the panthakis and trustees have agreed to be part of the scheme and realize that having rituals performed for the departed is a boon and blessing for the self. The administrator will ensure that there is no laxity in the performance of rituals.

Ervad (Dr) RAMIYAR KARANJIA

ramiyark@gmail.com