Sanjan Day celebrations

"Do not mollycoddle your kids,” was the message actor Boman Irani gave to parents at the Sanjan Day celebrations in that historic town on November 17, 2014 where he was chief guest. Today life for our youth is not at all hard, and this stops them from excelling. They need to go out into the big open world as our ancestors did and then excel and win, he exhorted. "You need to hunt for your daily bread and success,” he advised.
Irani admitted that this was a "historic moment” for him, it being his first visit to Sanjan. Speaking about his humble beginnings, the genial actor said he did many odd jobs before ultimately joining the film fraternity. He recalled with gratitude that when he was a struggling photographer the Russian consulate in Bombay had given him studio space for 12 years at "virtually throwaway prices” only because he was a Parsi Zoroastrian.

The annual Sanjan Day program was attended by over 1,100 Parsi Zoroastrians ranging in age from four months to 86 years, coming from Bombay, Poona, Surat, Navsari, Nargol and surrounding areas, mentions a write-up from Pareecheher Daviervala, master of ceremonies. Her late father Rohinton had started the tradition and her mother Bapsy, who was present to welcome all present, is president of the Sanjan Memorial Column’s local committee. The function was graced by Dastur Khurshed Dastoor of Iranshah, Udvada, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Dinshaw Mehta and BPP trustees Arnavaz Mistry and Khojeste Mistree. Trustee Yazdi Desai was represented by his wife Anahita, while another trustee, Armaity Tirandaz, sent an appealing message to the community. As they do each year on this day, Western Railways had arranged for the Flying Ranee and Gujarat Express trains to make special halts at Sanjan as a goodwill gesture towards the Parsis, the write-up notes.
The proceedings began with two jashans, one by Dastoor with priests from Udvada and the other performed by the priests of Sanjan and Nargol. Dastoor led a humbandagi, and paid tributes to two veteran founding members of the Sanjan Day who had passed away recently, Dosabhai Oliaji, the ‘King’ of Daman and Devka, and Nariman Bulsara of Saronda. The former was the treasurer and the latter was secretary of the Sanjan Memorial Column committee. While on the subject of Parsi charity, Dastoor rued that the community is lacking in the field of organ donations (see "Organ donation debate,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, December 21, 2014). His message was endorsed by Mehta who had earlier thought donating organs was "a sin” for Zoroastrians. Among the other speakers were Mistry, Mistree and Desai.
A variety entertainment program, free water, cold drinks, tea and breakfast snacks were provided, as well as lunch for all attendees catered by Kaizad Patel.