Play program

"Awakening” was the theme of the 67th Annual Cultural Program of the Nowroze Baug Play Centre (NPC) held at the Sophia Bhabha Auditorium on May 31, 2014. This fund-raising program is held every year to meet the NPC’s ongoing expenses on various educational and medical schemes that benefit community members as well as others, mentions a write-up received via email from Armin Bavan.

Eighty persons, young and old, participated in the entertainment program, including a four-year-old who took part in various dances and pyramids that enthralled viewers. Issues relating to a green environment, female feticide, drug/alcohol abuse and student suicide were depicted through song and dance with visuals on the screen. Some of the pyramids were as high as 15 feet, with young ones perched precariously at the apex. The pyramids were performed under the guidance of 68-year-old Cyrus Siganporia who has been doing pyramids with NPC for the past 32 years. He also trains students at The Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly High School, Dadar Athornan Institute, Bai Ratanbai F. D. Panday Girls High School and Khareghat Colony, the write-up notes. He was assisted by Perzon Porbunderwalla. The dance sequences with remixes of Bollywood songs followed with a mock dance choreographed by Merzi Anklesaria where boys dressed as girls danced to Choli ke pichhe kya hai? Pearl Tirandaz, an experienced dancer and teacher choreographed many of the dance items. The evening’s comperes were Zenia Wadia and Naznin Govadia.
Child president Kaizeen Modi gave a welcome speech highlighting the good work done by NPC and its contributions to society. Meher Pobunderwalla received the Efficient Leader Award for 2013-2014. Also felicitated were youngsters who had participated in the old paper collection drives every month which generates funds for the upkeep of the playground and the floodlights, the email mentions. Rohinton Mehta, who has always been supportive of the NPC and donates regularly for its educational and medical schemes, was the chief guest (see "Nowroz Baug non-starter,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, July 7, 2014). Also present were Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta, BPP trustee Armaity Tirandaz, BPP public relations officer Godrej Dotivala and Wadia Management Committee member Dhun Gagrat. NPC president Homi Ustad presented an overview of the Centre and appealed to people to come forward to help the association in generating funds or by volunteering their services, notes the write-up.