‘Rain’ dance in Lonavala

Anxiety was writ large on the faces of the trustees of the Lonavala Khandala Anjuman. After weeks of preparation for their grand annual outdoor dinner-cum-dance function on November 15, 2014, the Western Ghats hill station had unseasonable rain. Around 250 tickets had been sold at Rs 600 each ensuring a capacity crowd on the spacious grounds of the Seth Cowasjee Dinshaw Adenwalla Daremeher. Caterer Adil Bhesadia of Bombay had been booked for the food and the lively and popular Brynhild band that entertained the gathering last year was engaged.
Trustees Capt Percy and Arin Master, Sam Choksey, Rashida and Maneck Shroff, Adi Banaji, Rusi Anklesaria, Behram Dhabhar and Saroosh Dinshaw mulled over what should be done. A mandap (shamiana) was ruled out. The area was too vast. There was not enough time. Any canopy, not properly constructed, could collapse with the weight of the rain; no water should fall on the sound equipment, a person could be electrocuted, etc.

The trustees decided to go ahead with laying out the tables and chairs and putting up the 14 banners from well-wishers that helped defray part of the expenses. An area with a sturdy metal covering was created for the band. A large unused hall in a separate structure in the agiary compound could be used in the event of a downpour. Throughout the afternoon the rain fell. But miraculously, around 4 p.m., the showers stopped and it remained dry for the rest of the evening and night.
A relieved Master informed the gathering of the "tension we faced for the last few days” and of the alternate arrangements made in case of a cloudburst. "Thank you for coming and braving the rains,” he told the large gathering. He thanked the donors who had paid for the banner advertisements and made special mention of the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds that gave "a handsome donation.”
Choksey introduced the trustees to the multitude and said this year they were going to present a shawl to Banaji for his contribution to the Anjuman. Banaji had also obtained a three lakh rupee donation for the Lonavala agiary through the executors of the estate of the late Silloo Manchersha Gandhi. A donation was also made to the Banaji Limji Agiary in Fort and other Parsi institutions, Banaji said. Feeling the strain of organizing such ambitious functions, the Anjuman is debating whether to hold the event every alternate year or toning down the program.
Pearl Mistry from the Jiyo Parsi program spoke for a few minutes on the demographic initiative launched by the Parzor Foundation and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet with funding from the Government of India. Mistry said the community was at the top in every field so "why not in population?” The community numbers were declining at 12% a year. "We’ll become a tribe.” (A community is not classified as a tribe on the basis of its numbers — editors)
Master exhorted the merrymaking crowd (most of whom were over the childbearing age) to "get serious” about increasing their dwindling numbers.
Preparations for the event start three months earlier and at least four to five meetings with various vendors are held, discloses Master in an email to Parsiana. "Price is a major issue,” as the ticket sales cover only part of the cost, the rest coming from donors. "This annual event keeps the local members of our community united… It was so good to see the old and young mixing… letting their hair down and forgetting their daily problems. These events create friendships and help community bonding.”
On future occasions the Anjuman "may promote young talents” within the community. Master is not in favor of a gahanbar due to the crunch of funds. The monies "we have, we want to use for good causes like helping individuals in need of medical or old age assistance. We also want to encourage education for the girl child of the local people who work in our bungalows.” On the anvil is the local directory "so people can be in touch when they visit these hills during the weekends.”