“Come in soldiers”

"There is no greater pleasure then seeing two angels take their first step into the Zoroastrian fold," said Shiraz Guard welcoming Suzan Rustom Jevasa and Melvin Dali Jevasa after their navjote ceremony on November 28, 2012 at Cama Baug. The ceremony was sponsored by the Bombay based Zoroastrian Trust Funds of India (ZTFI) of which Guard is a committee member.

"Come in soldiers," said ZTFI trustee Frahnak Contractor, welcoming the "sainiks" who would fight on the side of good against evil. Aside from performing the navjotes, ZTFI undertakes a host of beneficial community programs including giving monetary assistance of Rs 500 to 500 people every month, distributing grain, caring for senior citizens, taking people to Udvada — "they go to Iranshah to recharge our batteries," noted Contractor. The ZTFI wants to "bring all in the community on an even keel… the maximum good to the maximum number of beings." Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Arnavaz Mistry and ZTFI trustee Yasmin Mistry also addressed the gathering.

In a letter inviting the Press to cover the function, Yasmin Mistry noted the event "has been organized mainly to make the individuals understand our aims and objectives as we try to achieve, foster, encourage our youth, provide various kind of help to poor and needy, to meet, assimilate and strive for a better tomorrow, leading to further prosperity of the community."

Amongst those attending were BPP trustee Muncherji Cama, Kersi Randeria owner of Parsi Times and who along with Cama is one of the main financers of ZTFI, Yezdi Bhagwagar, noted chartered accountant, Rusi Bhumgara of the World Zoroastrian Organisation-India (WZO) and Eruch Hodiwalla, trustee of the Salsette Parsi Colony. Around 900 people attended the function, according to a ZTFI press note.

The navjote and speeches were followed by a gara competition, song and dance performances by children from the Nowroze Baug Play Centre group and Ahura Gen-X group from Gamadia Colony, songs by Viraf Daruwalla and a lucky draw followed by a sit down dinner by caterer Tanaz Godiwalla who provided the sumptuous fare at a subsidized cost. Dinner tickets were priced at Rs 200. The winner of the gara competition was Shirin Desai who won an LG double door fridge sponsored by ZTFI.