The thrice blessed

"Seeing the boys so selflessly working on their prayers prior to the navar (ceremony) I felt that I should show them by example my dedication to the Zarathushti faith. I decided to complete my martab initiation ceremonies during the same period,” explains Ervad Zubin Phiroz Dastoor of Singapore referring to the efforts and training required of him and his sons Jehan, aged 11 years and Zane, aged nine. They spent three weeks at Bombay’s Vachaghandy Agiary under the tutelage of Ervad Asphandiar Dada­chanji.
Responding to Parsiana’s queries by e-mail Zubin wrote, "Having gone through the navar ceremony more than 30 years ago at the Dadar Agiary I had forgotten what was involved in the process… It is not easy and is something that everyone who experiences should feel very proud of accomplishing. It was amazing for me to see how the experience changed my sons. At the start, I saw excitement in their eyes. This excitement was partly from the unknown and the romance of doing something of this magnitude. But the excitement very quickly disappeared once the reality of what needed to be accomplished and how they would live and spend the next 21 days hit. As the new rules became known the excitement of the unknown transformed to fear of the unknown and doubts of whether they had what it takes to succeed. But as each day passed I saw their inner core get stronger and stronger, heard the strength in their voices when they prayed, and I saw the confidence in their stance. It was truly amazing to witness and be part of the physical and spiritual transformation that they experienced.”

Ervad Zubin Dastoor (center) with his newly initiated sons Ervads Jehan and Zane

December 21, 2011 when the boys attired in their ceremonial sparkling white garb completed their navar ceremony by paying obeisance to the atash was a memorable day for them as also their parents Zubin and Jasmine. "It was a proud moment indeed seeing and listening to our sons pray. They really did an amazing job, far, far better than I ever did! So many people came up to us and complimented us on how superbly they prayed… The joy and pride I held for both at that moment was too much for me to contain and those around definitely saw me in tears!” acknowledged the father.
"It was as if all our ancestors, summoned by us, were beside them giving support and power,” conveyed Zubin. Each of them had dedicated their ceremonies to forebears from their family. Zubin’s martab ceremony was a tribute to his maternal grandfather, Mancher­shah Maneckji Bharucha whom he remembered as a "a very jovial, loving and caring soul.” Whilst Jehan dedicated his ceremony to his maternal grandfather Fali Jehangirji Cooper who was known as "a very kind, loving and family oriented man,” Zane’s ceremony was in memory of Zubin’s paternal grandmother Shirinbai Nariman Dastoor who was "the backbone of her family and was instrumental in instilling the virtues of spirituality and love in me. During my navar initiation granny was the one who selflessly devoted her time to be with me,” reminisced Zubin.
"Going through my navar was an experience that I will remember for a long time. It was definitely worth doing. The first day was the scariest because I did not know what to expect. I was very worried that I would not know my prayers,” Jehan shared his experience with Parsiana. Whilst the food at the Agiary he described as "amazing” the most difficult for him though was not being able to touch objects unless the gloves were worn and not touching people at all. "Glad to see the smile on my mom and dad’s face when I completed my navar,” Jehan also expressed his pride in himself, more so "because this is something I never thought I could do.”
Little Zane particularly missed his home and family although the priests at the agiary were kind and he made friends with other boys undergoing their navar training. Candidly confessing that he was feeling "sad and lonely,” the youngster added, "It was nice that my parents spent a lot of time at the Agiary with me even though I could not hug them. I was counting down the days till my dad came into the Agiary to do his martab. I am happy that my ceremony was successfully done.”
Hailing from the family who were head priests in Surat, Zubin continued the priestly lineage "by becoming the first ordained priest from North America in 1980,” he recalls. "Jasmine and I had always dreamed and worked towards our boys continuing with this proud tradition so that they too could serve our Zarathushti community with love and pride when required…”