Awards galore

"We decided to felicitate two special people who have rendered special services to the Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust (MEJMT) over the years,” narrated trustee Mahiyar Dastoor, speaking to Parsiana on April 5, 2018 about the 38th annual Festival of Spring hosted by the Trust on March 21. Advertising veteran Dinoo Dosabhoy was presented a long service award for conceptualizing various contests before the annual celebration for MEJMT, down the years, as was photographer Noshir Winemerchant for his "years and years of recording our events... In addition, we recognized the achievement of Pearl Mistry with an award for her sculpture on ‘Women’s empowerment’ displayed at the British Parliament in London.
Other special awardees were chartered accountant and tax consultant Nanu Daruwalla, recipient of the President’s Police Medal Inspector Cyrus Irani, homeopath Dr Parinaz Humranwala and sports organizer and social worker Rusi Bhumgara, informed Dastoor in a detailed note on the event. This year’s "Jal Mistry Memorial Award for the Outstanding Colonyite” was awarded to Burzin Daver, chief executive officer of aviation services company Livwel Group. The Rohinton Chinoy Awards, instituted by Union Press for excellence in academics and sports were presented to outstanding Colony residents and others. Colony resident Jehan Daruvala was congratulated for his brilliance in the world motor racing scene, while The Kavina K. Karkaria Award — 2018 for the most promising Colony youngster was awarded to songstress Delraaz Bunshah.

Children delighting the audience

Photos: Sarosh Daruwalla, Mazda Audio Video Labs

Udvada High Priest and member of the National Commission for Minorities Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, chief guest for the evening, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award in Religious Leadership. The Rustom Faramna Agiary Awards 2017 for excellence in bhantar (prayers) was presented to Ervad Farhad Shroff and overall excellence (studies and bhantar) to Ervad Khurshed Behramkamdin; Ervad Cyrus Panthaki was felicitated for completing 38 years of religious services to the community.
The function had began with a welcome song by the children of the dharmagnyan class conducted by Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, sponsored by Roshan, Piyoo and Sanober Nanavati. The songs were coordinated by Shernaz Talati, Hufrish Bamji and Havovi Karanjia.
"We are a pan-Bombay event,” Mahiyar conveyed to Parsiana. "While we do our best to promote talent within the Colony, we also reach out to other Parsi enclaves to spot and encourage youngsters.” The entertainment events are a major draw at each Festival. The evening’s program kicked off with "Legends of Dance,” with two lead-in numbers by singer Cyrus Dubash, stand-up comic Neville Bharucha, followed by Colony-ites performing a Bollywood dance number Swag se Swagat (welcome with swag). These were followed by dances highlighting the film industry’s Kapoor clan, actresses Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit and actors Prabhudeva, Shahid Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan.
As in the previous years, the celebrations had started earlier with "some interesting competitions” being conducted over the preceding week-ends in March. These included competitions on creativity, treasure hunts and music sessions. The now famous gara raffle, as in prior years, offered a "stunningly beautiful” gara in memory of late Naju Davar presented by her daughter, Ferzeen Boomla.
The sponsors of the evening were Sterling and Wilson Group, the House of Tatas, Central Bank of India, Union Bank of India, The Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Limited along with The WZO Trust Funds of India, Della Adventure Resorts, Rustomjee Group and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet among others. The Pirojsha Godrej Foundation provided a "magnanimous” donation.
Singing to the tune of Chhaiyé Hamé Zarathoshti and the national anthem brought a nostalgic end to the show. Dinner was catered by Tanaz Godiwala with the vegetarian fare being provided by Subhash Talwar.
Dinyar Panthaki, Zareen Engineer, Jimi and Mithoo Jesia, Tina Patel, Darius Zaiwalla, Homai Daruwalla and Behram Rabadi serve as MEJMT trustees with Mahiyar.