Khushali nu jashan

Recently when we visited Bombay for a navjote in the family, my sister and her husband decided to have a khushali nu jashan in their home as we were together after a long time. At the end of the jashan when we wanted to offer our own blessings by placing sukhad on the fire, the priest asked us not to do so. He told my sister "Khaali chokha thi aatash né vadhavi lèv (just sprinkle rice over the fire).”
This was the first time we heard of this "new” practice. For thanksgiving prayers in our own home we ourselves could not give thanks by offering sukhad! I found this dictum strange.
Has anyone experienced this new reevaj (custom) and can someone please explain its meaning to me?
PARVIN DAMANIA
padamania@gmail.com

At Parsiana’s request scholar Farrokh Vajifdar and Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, principal of the Dadar Athornan Institute explain:

Vajifdar: Here we have yet another distressing episode in the sorry chapter of priestly ignorance. It is very plain that the Damania family’s wish to have a celebratory jashan was sincere and in keeping with pious Parsi regard for preservation of an ancient custom. This particular jashan should and could have been a joyous thanksgiving for a family reunion with a navjote as pivotal. Instead we see a priest who has offended the sponsoring family by denying the simple and rightful request to have its members piously offer sandalwood — after he had supposedly sanctified the flame in the family home!
This man was obviously attempting to exercise whatever shred of authority he felt he might have possessed. There is, in absolute fact, no such interdict — indeed it would be dishonorable and disrespectful towards our precious, all-embracing Mazdayasna which by its very confession brings harmony and good fellowship. As I am aware, even a privately held jashan has the same intention — spreading a quiet tranquility and deep, inner contentment. And do not the officiating priests (there should always be two!) solemnly intone "us moi uzareshva ahura (Arise within me, O Mazda)”?
It seems from all recent reports that the standing of priests has plummeted in Parsi affections — for me these are matters for genuine regret, since I fondly recall priests who spontaneously evoked respect, pride and affection. It was not the uniform, but the wearer who commanded such high regard.

Karanjia: The practice (reevaj) of taking only the ovarna with rice after a khushali nu jashan and not allowing people to put loban has been introduced in some places. According to me it is not older than two decades.
This practice seems to have stemmed from the notion that loban mukvanu is associated only with death rituals. This is wrong, as loban (incense) is offered to the fire to spread fragrance in the house to welcome good energies and beings (Yazads, Asho Farohar, etc) into the house.
Moreover, the fact that taking ovarna is associated with happy occasions has strengthened this practice. However, a khushali nu jashan is not merely a festive occasion but a solemn thanksgiving ritual to offer gratitude, draw divine blessings and induce divine presence in the house.
Hence I do not see any wrong in offering sandalwood and loban after a khushali nu jashan. In fact, it should be done.