A maratab in Nagpur

Ervad Arshaan Bhatena, the 15-year-old navar, who was ordained as maratab at Nagpur’s Bai Hirabai Mulla Dar-e-Meher is a 9th Std student of Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan school in Nagpur. He was encouraged by parents Dinshaw and Kaneef to pursue his religious studies and learn the duties that a navar-maratab has to undertake, mentions an email received by Parsiana from Khurshid Dalal, committee member of the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana. Bhatena managed this without compromising on academic studies, at which the lad is very proficient, the email notes.

Ervad Arshaan Bhatena (third from left) with his mentors

Tutored by Narges Dalal, under the guidance of Ervad Sohrab Bharucha, Bhatena completed training for the advanced course within a few years of becoming a navar. Two priests from Bombay, Ervads Keki Panthaki and Homiyar Karanjia went to Nagpur for 10 days to train Bhatena in the formalities required for completing the maratab ceremony which was held on November 13, 2015 in the presence of members of the family and community.
Visiting priest Panthaki appreciated the fact that the youngster was totally involved in performing religious ceremonies like afringan, boi, jashan, ashirvad and gah sarvanu and was not a priest only in name like many others of his generation. Mehroo Watchmaker, a committee member of the Nagpur Parsi Punchayet and vice-president of the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana, congratulated Bhatena, his parents, guides and mentors, and spoke highly of the youngster’s dedication to the priesthood, the email notes.