Meaningful Meherangan

Throngs of devotees visited the M. J. Wadia Agiary at Lalbaug on the Meher­an­­gan Parav, Meher mah, Meher roz, on March 1, 2012. The day also marked the fifth anniversary of the renovation of the Agiary, notes a write-up sent to Parsiana by Roxane Desai. The M. J. Wadia Agiary Hall was the venue for a jashan led by Vada Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Ud­vada to celebrate the occasion. Two monajats were sung by participants of the Structured Religious Course having been trained by Marazban Mehta.

Kersi Limathwalla, chairman of the M. J. Agiary Trust invoked Meher Yazad and thanked the grace of this "angel of justice” for helping the Trust grow from strength to strength. He emphasized the three important aspects of the function — religious, celebratory and eating together in hamazori before inviting Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia to the rostrum as speaker of the day, mentions the write-up. Limathwalla and Karanjia have worked together for five years to conduct the Structured Religious Course which spreads knowledge about our religion and is offered at the Agiary.

Clockwise from top l: Dr Homi Dhal­-la; Hakon Tandberg; audience; Shyam Wadia, Dara Mehta, Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, Ervad (Dr) Rami­-yar Karanjia and Kersi Limathwalla

Karanjia explained how knowledge and learning are of little significance unless they are put into practice. It is such application of knowledge that culminates into wisdom, he said. Karanjia shared thoughts on how to keep up one’s courage while dealing with problems. His talk was followed by a short speech by Dastoor who urged the community to not let our weak minds get carried away by baseless superstitions and beliefs. We must adapt ourselves to change but we must never change our faith, Dastoor maintained. Hakon Tandberg from Bergen University, Norway spoke on Zoroastrian rituals and beliefs, explaining the discovery and uses of fire as propounded by the Indo-Iranians and the role played by consecrated fire in the lives of laymen.

A recitation of the Shahnameh by Roshan Dastoor along with youngsters Khushnaz Kerawala, Anahita Karanjia and Shahzad Faroodi followed. A play written by Desai with a telling message — love and cherish your parents, thank them today because tomorrow it may be too late — was enacted by children. Desai was also felicitated for her role in coordinating the Structured Religious Courses. A film by Dr Homi Dhalla dwelling on the Bahrot Caves, dakhmenashini system and solar concentrators was screened.

The entertainment came to a close with the foot-tapping version of the song Kolaveri di (Why this rage?) adapted by Mehta to "Why this maramari, maramari di?” The starting of the 5th Structured Religious Course on April 1, 2012 was announced, and those interested in learning about the scriptures, rituals and meaning of various ceremonies were asked to contact Desai on 98193­79345 or Tehem­ton Karma on 96190-68162, notes the write-up.