More hospitality at Udvada

Two new lodges have opened within less than a month of each other this year in Udvada. Both were donated by wives of priests who belonged to one of the nine Udvada families. As the numbers of practicing mobeds decline, their homes are either being used for the community at large or are falling into the hands of the highest bidder. The generous act by the mobed families will make a pilgrimage to Udvada more affordable.
"This is a blessed house – most navjotes, navar ceremonies, engagements and weddings in the family have commenced from here. Lots of farestas (prayers) done here,” reminisces Ervad Tehmton Dastur about the newly opened Frohar Lodge in Udvada. As we breakfast here on akoori with raw mango stirred in, Dastur adds, "Su hasi-boli né time karioch ahiyan. (We have spent so much time here in laughter and gaiety).” The three brothers — Cyrus, Darayas and Tehmton — qualified for their navar-martab from here as well.
Ava Kuvar House, the home of the late Ervad Sohrab and Roda Bharda on the main road, was renovated as the Frohar Lodge as per their "Roda masi’s (maternal aunt) desire to share barkat (bounty).” She was termed one of the best goranis (priest’s wife) who supplied daran, papri-malido, bhakhras, ghari and all other chasni (consecrated food) needed for sundry prayers, Tehmton informs us. She also supplied "chokkhha bhona (meals prepared in a special manner) for mobeds who were in nahan (ritual cleansing),” adds Cyrus. These tasks have always been the preserve of wives of mobeds, as they are expected to know the prayer rituals required in their preparation.

Frontage of two newly opened lodges at their inaugurations

Inaugurated on February 23, 2014 at the hands of the three brothers’ younger masi Meher Mody, they chose their mother Gul’s roj-varas (birthday) for it. The jashan was restricted to close family and a few friends and was done by the family mobeds, with Tehmton leading the prayers.
The childless Bhardas left the house bought in 1966 to seven beneficiaries and all unanimously acceded to Cyrus’ suggestion of converting it into a lodge for worshippers. The three executors of Roda’s will have handed over the running of the Lodge to the Frohar Foundation (FF) founded by Cyrus, of which he is creative and executive director. "The name (Frohar) is dear to me. The Lodge is doing well with its full capacity of 25 persons. It has one room which is air-conditioned, two rooms with attached toilets and four dormitory type rooms sans attached toilets. All rooms can accommodate three persons but beds are added when demanded,” Cyrus expands. He also informs us that at a pinch 32 persons can be crammed in. The air-conditioned room is for Rs 1,000 a day for two persons with a charge of Rs 200 for an extra bed. When electricity fails, power is provided by an inverter. The dormitory rooms are pegged at Rs 70 per day per person. Breakfast is charged at Rs 80; lunch and dinner at Rs 200 each (both non-vegetarian). No rice is served at night. Their contact email is froharfoundation@gmail.com and the manager’s mobile phone number is 75750 35702. Adi Doctor is filling in as manager to tide over Nozer Commissariat, the former manager’s medical crisis.
FF’s main pursuit is tele-serials (Asha Vahishta which is currently viewed on Zee Jagran), they are also into welfare and charitable activities, awarding educational scholarships, organizing educational exhibitions and offering medical aid. FF also published two volumes of Parsika, a compilation of informative and educative charts researched, created and drawn by the late Noshir Daboo of Ahmedabad who taught the religion using these teaching aids.

Lodges loading Udvada

The World Zoroastrian Organisation, India [WZO (I)] has rebuilt Gool Bharda’s home, donated to them, into a two-storey sanatorium. The net classifies it as a "a public inn.” The spanking new building was raised on razing the old Bharda House and WZO (I) have now built "14 self-contained rooms and two self-contained dormitories,” Rusi Bhumgara president of WZO (I) informed us. They named it WZO (I) Bharda House as it is their second venture in Udvada as their presence is already felt with Katila Lodge (KL), located very close to the Iranshah. KL has only four rooms with toilets and bathrooms placed outside, which is a deterrent for modern-day pilgrims. The committee feels KL is not adequate for the rush on saaraa divaso (good days) in Adar mah, behram rozs etc.
"Obtaining permissions in our country is not easy. But the credit for making the property ready and usable mainly goes to Nozer Meherji and Rohinton Irani,” reveals Bhumgara. Meherji, the vice president of WZO (I) worked with Irani of Udvada’s Irani Bakery to get all the clearances and permissions. So, on March 2, 2014 — Meher mah and Srosh roz — there was a small gathering of about 25-30 persons as Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza, one of two head priests of Udvada, cut the inaugural ribbon after performing the jashan. "There was no fanfare,” it was reiterated.
Shahin Irani is the manager in residence of this abode situated on an inner road near the Irani Bakery, and may be contacted at 0260-2345742. Information is also available on the net on searching WZO (I), Udvada. Parsiana got no response when asked whether there is a separate website for the Lodge.
Bharda House currently charges Rs 250 per room meant for two and Rs 350 per room for three. The dormitory charges are Rs 100 per day per person. The boarding charges total Rs 400 per day per person comprising a set menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea twice a day. The sanatorium also offers an option of à la carte menu displayed on the notice board.
This new building cost WZO (I) a crore of rupees of which they were able to collect Rs 50 lakhs (US $ 1,66,666) through programs, from trusts and philanthropic individuals. The committee expects 40 to 50% occupancy within a year, informs Bhumgara.