Asha Vahishta’s fifth

A maachi held in Havan gah at the Asha Vahishta dadgah in Poona on Christmas Day to mark the fifth anniversary of the fire temple was attended by 100 Parsis, Zoroastrians and non-Parsi spouses and children, noted trustees Kerssie Wadia. Wadia and his brother Vispy, of the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism are amongst the center’s founders.
"There were no speeches… A simple gathering of like-minded Zoroastrians… Six mobeds performed the jashan,” communicated Kerssie about the anniversary function.

The dadgah "has fulfilled the main aim of inclusion by providing a truly dignified alternative to the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian families who were discriminated against and prevented from entering other Zoroastrian places of worship, with a special focus on the inter-married Parsi population including their non-Parsi spouses, so as to ensure that a family is able to worship together” as a unit, Vispy stated.
"Set up at a cost of Rs 2.5 crores… the two-storey building comprises a kebla room, a prayer hall and a library,” wrote journalist Delshad Karanjia (see "An open house,” Parsiana, January 7, 2018).
Asha Vahishta sees an average of four to five devotees on weekdays and approximately 10 to 12 on weekends, informed Vispy. "After a slowdown due to Covid, in 2022 the dadgah saw 18 navjotes and eight ashirwad ceremonies performed…Maachis, tandorasti prayers are done by most of the devotees visiting the dadgah wherein names of non-Parsi spouses and non-Parsi family members are also taken in the prayers.”
In addition to Kerssie and Vispy, Farhad Bottlewalla, Behram Surty, Aspi Billimoria, Phiroze Dubash and Murzban Bharucha serve as trustees of the house of worship.