Shepherding the congregation

By late evening most fire temples are deserted. Aside from the odd devotee and a priest or chasniwalla, the premises remain bereft of activity. Thus when two senior citizens were locked in or opted to remain in the Zarthoshti Anjumanna Atash Bahram (ZAAB) at Dhobi Talao after the closing hour of 9.30 p.m., one wondered what motivated them to linger in the precincts that most vacate after some fleeting moments, more so as night approaches.

According to the honorary secretary of the Atash Bahram, Ervad Burjor Antia, the duo used to "chitchat, read newspapers, do exercises/yoga…near the place reserved for the security guard" prior to entering the holy precincts to pray at around 8.45 p.m., presumably after partaking of dinner at home. Of the two, one who Parsiana was able to contact said he was "a loner" and was happy to even pass the night listening to the prayers when the gah changed.

While their protracted presence proved an irritant to the mobeds and especially the boiwallas on duty, the duo obviously found the social ambience of the fire temple an attraction, a change probably from the monotony of home. The two lived next door to the Atash Bahram and with few other public places in the crowded vicinity, the ZAAB was a convenient refuge. While one lived alone, the other was a family man who too may have wanted a break from the household. Alternatively the household may have wanted him out for some time.

Life in a densely packed metropolis like Bombay with few open spaces and even fewer places for the elderly, homemakers, youngsters to congregate, can be tedious and stressful. With the price of real estate soaring, families are often forced to live together in cramped surroundings. A family of four or six may reside in a one-room or one bedroom apartment. If clubs and gymkhanas are not affordable or accessible, then agiaries and atash behrams could perhaps, with a little adjustment, fill that vacuum admirably.

Several fire temples have halls on the premises or adjacent to them which are given on hire for social functions. Very often these premises lie unused. Bombay has 50 fire temples which once served a peak population of around 75,000. Now the number would be closer to 40,000 (it was around 46,000 as per the 2001 Government of India census figures). This works out to 800 Parsis per place of worship. If one discounts for the very young and the elderly who are unable to visit the agiaries, etc, the figure may drop to around 600.

While fire temples are spread out over the city the community is concentrated in certain areas such as Grant Road/Tardeo and its vicinity and Dadar. Agiaries outside of these concentrations may find it hard to attract a sufficient number of devotees. Although the Seth Nasserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary in Cusrow Baug has ample worshippers, the Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary also in the Colaba precinct has few. Of the six agiaries in the Grant Road area, the Ashburner agiary bordering Khetwadi struggles to make ends meet and is subsidized by other trusts. Of the four agiaries catering to around 140 Parsi residents of Bharuch in south Gujarat, two have hardly any devotees, sometimes no more than a lone visitor in a week.

Attempts to shift fires from one agiary to another have not met with much success. When the Bombay Parsi Punchayet was in search of a fire to install at the newly constructed Shapoorji Fakirji Jokh Agiary at Godrej Baug, they first considered shifting the fire from the Seth Jamshedji Jejeebhoy Godavara Agiary managed by them in the Fort area which has few devotees. But angry community members derided the shift although there are five other fire temples within a radius of two kilometers and moved the courts for a stay. Finally a fire from a defunct agiary in Tavri near Navsari was brought and installed at the Jokhi Agiary. Similarly for the Pestonji Aslaji Doongaji Agiary in Bharuch where too there was a difference of opinion, stalling any change.

To date the only agiary to have two fires installed is the Cowasjee Dinshaw Adenwalla Daremeher in Lonavla, the second fire having being brought from Aden.

So instead of pouring efforts into attempting to shift fires, a more constructive approach may be to utilize the non-liturgical areas for more socioreligious activities. Many agiaries and atash behrams have general purpose areas away from the kebla and prayer halls. As it is jashans, navjotes, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, receptions for first sari wearing or newly ordained mobeds are held on fire temple land and structures with non-Parsi guests attending, music being played and liquor served. A folding table tennis table, some carom boards, board games such as Chinese checkers, chess, scrabble, snakes and ladders, ludo can be easily procured or donated by well-wishers. The costs would be nominal. If the agiary has an open space, chairs or benches can be placed for people to congregate after sunset and socialize.

In Udvada one recalls three elderly residents sitting on some rocks on the beach front. They said they gathered there because there was no meeting place for people in the village. Retired, they chose to settle in the seaside hamlet as it was more economical than Poona and the accommodation more affordable.

Concerned trustees of fire temples face or will face two problems: dwindling revenues and fewer footfalls. While both are major conundrums, drawing more community members to the agiaries may be the easier issue to tackle. The community can take a leaf from the churches which serve multiple purposes. Classes are conducted, socials arranged, lectures, bingo games, drawing competitions for children organized. Even the darbe mehrs in North America are used for meetings and social get-togethers. But there the distances to be traveled are greater. In India, where the fire temples are often within walking distance of many residents, the time and expense taken in commuting are minimal.

Conversing, exercising, reading journals may not be considered appropriate behavior at fire temples today. With slight modifications and imagination these activities may help preserve some of the community’s most precious heritages, not to mention real estate.