Clubbing, but slowly

With protocols in place, Parsi clubs are opening their doors following the aftermath of the second Covid pandemic wave.
Around 20 members and their guests turned up for lunch on July 1, 2021, the first day the Ripon Club reopened its doors after the easing of pandemic-induced restrictions, noted chairman of their managing committee Xerxes Dastur in conversation with Parsiana on July 4. "(I) am sure attendance will pick up,” he stated.
Only 70 persons will be allowed to be present at the Club at any given point, stated a circular dated June 30 from Dastur to Club members. Temperatures and contact details are logged upon entry. Each member is required to sign a declaration stating that they have not travelled abroad and have taken their vaccination, listed Dastur’s circular. "Dining tables have been arranged in a manner to ensure we follow the social distancing protocols and maintain a distance between two tables as required.” The Club has ensured that all the staff members are vaccinated and will follow all social distancing norms and maintain proper hygiene, according to the circular, adding that "The Club authorities reserve their right to remove any guest or member not following these rules.”

"We have decided to partially reopen the (Parsee) Gymkhana (at Marine Drive) from Monday to Friday from 8 a. m. to 3.30 p. m. We have permitted, as a special concession, only till July 31, our members to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages with their own cutlery and crockery… We shall review the situation thereafter,” committee member and gymnasium secretary Rustom Jasoomoney told Parsiana on July 11.
"As such it is closed,” president and trustee of the Elphinstone Cricket Club (and former Bombay Parsi Punchayet chairman) Dinshaw Mehta told Parsiana on July 7 about his organization. They were to have a meeting on July 15 to decide on an opening date. "We will open soon,” he stated.
A Dadar resident and member of the Dadar Parsee Gymkhana told us that the facility is used for public vaccinations. However, their gymnasium is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the grounds between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Calcutta Parsee Club reopened on June 19, with required social distancing norms in place. Preferring to allow only vaccinated members, the West Bengal Club has offered to assist members in getting the jab, stated a circular on their Facebook page. Secunderabad’s Zoroastrian Club has opened up too since early June when the lockdown in Telangana state was lifted, states our correspondent Beyniaz Edulji. F. J.