Mevawala’s salgireh

Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position or prestige, but discovered in goodness, humility, service and character, said chief guest Freny Mehta, principal of The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, while addressing the gathering at the 139th salgireh of the Seth B. M. Mevawala Agiary in Byculla on May 1, 2013, roz Srosh, mah Adar. Her message to the youngsters who are the future of our community was to choose and to live by choice; to make changes, not excuses; to be motivated, not manipulated; to excel, not compete.

The Agiary was decorated with flowers, rangoli and festive lighting, mentions an email received by Parsiana from Ervad Parvez Bajan, panthaky of the fire temple. That morning a maachi was offered by the trustees and a jashan led by Bajan was performed to honor the founders of the Agiary. Another jashan was performed in the evening led by Ervad Darayus Bajan, on behalf of well-wishers and residents of Byculla. The religious program that followed was chaired by trustee Dr Aspi Mehta during which Freny Mehta and her husband Sarosh were made welcome and she was presented with a shawl.
Two minutes’ silence was observed in respectful memory of Burjor Mehta, former chairman of the Agiary Trust. His daughter Thrity Burzin Wadia paid tributes to her late father who had served as trustee for over three decades. She presented a donation of Rs 50,000 to the Agiary Trust in his memory. Ervad Parvez Bajan traced the history of the Agiary from the time the astah was originally enthroned in the Bhendi Bazar area in 1851. Zerxes and Jehan Bajan recited in Gujarati couplets from the Shahnameh pertaining to the episode of Rustom and Sohrab, the email mentions.

Marzban Wadia (l) and Marazban Mehta entertain

As part of the evening’s entertainment six girls from The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, some of them dressed as boys, made a presentation of Parsis attending navjotes and lagans, set to music, conceptualized and choreographed by their music teacher Gulnar Tafti. Young boys and girls from the Farohar Dharmagyan Class of Jer Baug demonstrated "agiary etiquette,” composed and trained by Zenobia Driver. Songs and monajats sung by the senior ladies from Rustom Baug to accompaniment on the mouth organ elicited a standing ovation. Well known singers and composers Marazban Mehta, Marzban Wadia and Jamshed Kotwal treated the audience to melodious songs and monajats, the email notes.
The program ended with a vote of thanks and gifts to all those who made the function a success, the participants, their parents and teachers. Sharmin Dumasia’s artistic rangoli was appreciated. Also thanked were Kersi Guzder of Grub Corner, Feroze Sethna of Feroze Foods and Flavors, senior citizens of Rustom Baug and the Parsi Press. Not forgotten were the boiwallas, mobeds and agiary helpers, whose role was acknowledged. After singing Chhaiyé Hamé Zarthoshti, the devotees partook of the chasni, snacks and soft drinks, the email concludes.