Propitiating the waters

The love for our religion is resulting in intolerance which is tearing the community apart, said Kersi Limathwalla, organizer of the Avan Yazad nu Parav on the pier of the Radio Club at Colaba on March 24, 2016 to pay homage to Avan Ardavisur Banu, the deity of the waters. He felt the future of the community would be secure if we continue to keep alive the dudh ma sakar (sugar in the milk) myth. This sentiment was shared by chief guest Kersi Randeria, trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet who mentioned that at the inauguration of The Everlasting Flame exhibition in Delhi, every speaker had good things to say about our community. We are indeed the sugar in the Indian milk, so why is it that we have become our own enemies? The infighting has to stop so that we can concentrate on more pressing community issues, he said. Roxane Desai sent a write-up to Parsiana about the event.
Speaker Ervad Nadir Modi mentioned that our past, present and future are intertwined. People like Dadabhai Naoroji and Jamsetji Tata achieved what they did because they believed in change, and without change there can be no progress. We must improve the quality of ethics and integrity of our youth with better education, and we must increase our population, he felt. Advocate Zerick Dastur stated that while we have spread sweetness through merit in India, we have also retained our distinct identity. Our core values of integrity, perseverance and excellence which define us have helped reserve a place in the hearts and minds of other India communities.

Scores of devotees had converged on the pier where a jashan was performed by 21 priests led by Ervad Kersi Bhada of the M. J. Wadia Agiary in Lalbaug, followed by a humbandagi. As the sun went down, the strains of monajats by Jamshed Kotwal filled the air, notes the write-up.
Zarine Commissariat was master of ceremonies. The late Marzban Mehta, who had attended all such functions, was sorely missed by all. Limathwalla extolled the faith of community members who have been gathering at this venue for the past 40 years.
The story of the sugar in the milk is not featured in the Qisse-i Sanjan and is a recent introduction.