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Parsiana
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Dissatisfied at Doongerwadi

Recently my younger brother passed away and the four days’ after-death ceremonies were conducted at Doongerwadi.
I would like to draw the attention of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees and all those who have ceremonies performed there that the mobeds at Doongerwadi are a sloppy lot. The old and infirm just mumble so that one has no idea if they are even saying the prayers. Their attire leaves much to be desired — crumpled clothes, dirty feet (our agiary’s panthaky wears socks and fresh clothes) — and they are constantly looking around at the congregation. As though that was not bad enough, on the day of the early morning charum prayers two of the said mobeds were dozing in their chairs! Whether young or old, the mobeds at Doongerwadi seem to be more concerned about their comfort than in the prayers.
The BPP trustees should also instruct the staff who attend to the corpses not to stretch out their hands when the family is trying to cope with its grief. Donations are given at the end of the ceremonies. The lip-service giving BPP should wake up and do something.Here’s hoping that at the next BPP elections we vote in a better lot.
JEROO CAMA
jerusha42@gmail.com
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