Zoroastrians Abroad
More of mobedyars
With the recent initiation of Ontario’s Guloo Austin as mobedyar, the strength of lady mobedyars in North America has risen to two. The retired speech and language pathologist and fellow candidate Aspi Dorabjee were presented the mobedyar certification by Ervad Kobad Zarolia, president of the North American Mobeds Council (NAMC) on December 2, 2012 after he examined them in their competency in jashan and afringan ceremonies. Other NAMC representatives Ervads Nozer Kotwal, Noshir Mirza and Mobedyar Khushroo Mirza had also traveled long distances to examine the candidates who had been trained by Ervad Tehemton Mirza and to attend the ceremony, as noted a report in the ZSO (Zoroastrian Society of Ontario) newsletter of January 2013.
As required by the NAMC guidelines, the duo had to undergo a nahan ritual during which they chewed on a pomegranate leaf and sipped nirang while reciting "In khurram, in pakieatan, yozdathre ravanra (I drink this for the purification of my body…soul).” They also recited the Patet Pashemani (repentance of sins) in preparation for their initiation after which they were required to say the farajyat (compulsory) prayers of kusti, Srosh Baj, Havan Gah, Khorshed and Meher Nyaish.
Austin and Dorabjee then performed the jashan ceremony when they alternated as lead joti. Whilst they were reciting the Atash Nyaish followed by Doa Naam Stayishn, the entire congregation of around 40 Zarathushtis, as per practice in London, Ontario, stood in reverence. Thereafter they sought the blessings of Ahura Mazda, and prayed to Dahm Yazad for prosperity and Srosh Yazad for protection, reciting aloud the Dibacho for the Dahm and Srosh kardo. They also alternated in reciting the Aafreen when they blessed the congregation. Subsequently the entire gathering joined in when the new mobedyars recited the Din no Kalmo and Doa Tandorosti.
The gathering was given a glimpse of the community involvement of the new mobedyars when their mentor Tehemton Mirza introduced them. A standing ovation and felicitations greeted the new mobedyars after which the gathering partook of a delicious seven-course lunch that ended with sev, dahi and ravo.
Giving Tehemton credit "for our achievement,” 67-year-old Austin also appreciated that "my family and friends have been most encouraging and supportive.” Daughter of the late Kaikhushru and former Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Silloo Kavarana, Bombay-born Guloo who is married to Marzban explained to Parsiana her reasons for taking up the challenge: "I have been assisting Tehemton whenever he has been called upon at short notice to do the death rituals in a small town near London, where we reside. Sarnia is just 45 minutes away from us and we have been able to oblige and do the rituals for the four days and then the masiso and chhamsi and varsi prayers.
"Two years ago when the NAMC passed the resolution that females would be allowed to become mobedyars, I asked Tehemton if he would train me. It just seemed logical that since I had already been assisting I should formalize and take proper training. Once he agreed, we started weekly lessons, two hours in duration to learn the correct pronunciation, pauses, flower rituals, etc. Soon after Aspi Dorabjee also showed interest and so we both trained together. During the last three months we met twice a week to make sure we knew some passages by rote.” Having gained proficiency in certain prayers, "we will now tackle the five Gathas and plan to have muktads here too,” conveyed Austin.
Sixty-year-old Dorabjee recalled that "one day we had a jashan in our house and saw Guloo assist in the jashan which motivated me to join. I was always interested in learning the prayers.” With his roots in Poona — being a member of the family of Dorabjee and Sons restaurant — Aspi had graduated in commerce from the Poona University and moved to London, Ontario in 1990. Like Austin he too used to assist in death rituals in Ontario and decided to formalize his training. He felt gratified that the NAMC, friends and family "were very pleased and happy with our performance. We were showered with gifts and blessings by the whole group.”
As required by the NAMC guidelines, the duo had to undergo a nahan ritual during which they chewed on a pomegranate leaf and sipped nirang while reciting "In khurram, in pakieatan, yozdathre ravanra (I drink this for the purification of my body…soul).” They also recited the Patet Pashemani (repentance of sins) in preparation for their initiation after which they were required to say the farajyat (compulsory) prayers of kusti, Srosh Baj, Havan Gah, Khorshed and Meher Nyaish.
Austin and Dorabjee then performed the jashan ceremony when they alternated as lead joti. Whilst they were reciting the Atash Nyaish followed by Doa Naam Stayishn, the entire congregation of around 40 Zarathushtis, as per practice in London, Ontario, stood in reverence. Thereafter they sought the blessings of Ahura Mazda, and prayed to Dahm Yazad for prosperity and Srosh Yazad for protection, reciting aloud the Dibacho for the Dahm and Srosh kardo. They also alternated in reciting the Aafreen when they blessed the congregation. Subsequently the entire gathering joined in when the new mobedyars recited the Din no Kalmo and Doa Tandorosti. The gathering was given a glimpse of the community involvement of the new mobedyars when their mentor Tehemton Mirza introduced them. A standing ovation and felicitations greeted the new mobedyars after which the gathering partook of a delicious seven-course lunch that ended with sev, dahi and ravo.
Giving Tehemton credit "for our achievement,” 67-year-old Austin also appreciated that "my family and friends have been most encouraging and supportive.” Daughter of the late Kaikhushru and former Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Silloo Kavarana, Bombay-born Guloo who is married to Marzban explained to Parsiana her reasons for taking up the challenge: "I have been assisting Tehemton whenever he has been called upon at short notice to do the death rituals in a small town near London, where we reside. Sarnia is just 45 minutes away from us and we have been able to oblige and do the rituals for the four days and then the masiso and chhamsi and varsi prayers.
"Two years ago when the NAMC passed the resolution that females would be allowed to become mobedyars, I asked Tehemton if he would train me. It just seemed logical that since I had already been assisting I should formalize and take proper training. Once he agreed, we started weekly lessons, two hours in duration to learn the correct pronunciation, pauses, flower rituals, etc. Soon after Aspi Dorabjee also showed interest and so we both trained together. During the last three months we met twice a week to make sure we knew some passages by rote.” Having gained proficiency in certain prayers, "we will now tackle the five Gathas and plan to have muktads here too,” conveyed Austin.
Sixty-year-old Dorabjee recalled that "one day we had a jashan in our house and saw Guloo assist in the jashan which motivated me to join. I was always interested in learning the prayers.” With his roots in Poona — being a member of the family of Dorabjee and Sons restaurant — Aspi had graduated in commerce from the Poona University and moved to London, Ontario in 1990. Like Austin he too used to assist in death rituals in Ontario and decided to formalize his training. He felt gratified that the NAMC, friends and family "were very pleased and happy with our performance. We were showered with gifts and blessings by the whole group.”
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