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Dear Zarathushti friends,
today on Behram roj, Adar mah, YZ 1376, which is Sunday, 6th May 2007
is the Salgreh of these agiaries:
The Bai Motlibai Manekji Wadia Adaran at Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari, Mumbai
The adarian was consecrated in the year YZ 1232 ( AD 1863) and is
hence 144 years old.
The adarian is a God-send for the residents of the ever popular
Malcolm Baug colony, and for others from the Andheri-Borivali area.
Will there be any special ceremonies or jashans held to commemorate
this auspicious event.
Readers may share the time-table with all of us, and those who
actually go for the celebrations may send us a brief report.
Does someone have a photo of this agiary to share with us all.
Thank you,
Sincerely
Tehemton B Adenwalla
Dear Zarathushti friends,
this is an advance announcement of the Salgreh of our Agiaries on
Sarosh roj, Adar mah YZ 1376 (ie. Thurs, 3 May 2007).
We hope this would help our dear readers to plan their trips to these
agiaries well in time.
If you wish to share the event Calendar for any of these salgrehs,
please feel to do so with our members.
(Listed In order of establishment)
1. Seth Bhikhaji Hormasji Chinai Agiary at Gandevi, off Billimora
Station, South Gujarat
Consecrated in the year YZ 1203 (AD 1834) and is 173 years old
2. Seth Bomanji Merwanji Mewawalla Agiary at Byculla, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1220 (AD 1851) and is 156 years old
3. Seth Pallonji Khurshedji Cama Daremeher at Cama Baug, Grant Road, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1238 (AD 1869) and is 138 years old
4. Seth Hormusji Gandabhai Daremeher (Dadgah) at Pardi, next stop
to Udvada, Gujarat
Consecrated in the year YZ 1250 (AD 1881) and is 126 years old
5. Seth Edulji Rustomji Soonawalla Agiary at Mahim, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1282 (AD 1913) and is 94 years old
Sincerely,
Tehemton B. Adenwalla
Dear Zarathushti friends,
this is an advance announcement of the Salgreh of our Agiaries on
Sarosh roj, Adar mah YZ 1376 (ie. Thurs, 3 May 2007).
We hope this would help our dear readers to plan their trips to these
agiaries well in time.
If you wish to share the event Calendar for any of these salgrehs,
please feel to do so with our members.
(Listed In order of establishment)
Seth Bhikhaji Hormasji Chinai Agiary at Gandevi, off Billimora
Station, South Gujarat
Consecrated in the year YZ 1203 (AD 1834) and is 173 years old
Have enclosed some photos of this beautiful and serene agiary.
Seth Bomanji Merwanji Mewawalla Agiary at Byculla, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1220 (AD 1851) and is 156 years old
Seth Pallonji Khurshedji Cama Daremeher at Cama Baug, Grant Road, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1238 (AD 1869) and is 138 years old
Seth Hormusji Gandabhai Daremeher (Dadgah) at Pardi, next stop to
Udvada, Gujarat
Consecrated in the year YZ 1250 (AD 1881) and is 126 years old
Seth Edulji Rustomji Soonawalla Agiary at Mahim, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1282 (AD 1913) and is 94 years old
Sincerely,
Tehemton B. Adenwalla (encl photos)
Dear fellow Zarathushtis,
Today on Adar mah, Adar roj YZ 1376, ie. Wed, 25th April 2007, is the
Salgreh of the Holy Iranshah at Udvada.
The Holy Iranshah was consecrated in Sanjan in the year YZ 90 (721
AD) and is 1286 hence years old.
Can you believe it ... 1286 years old!
Iranshah has been with us Zarathushtis for more than a millennium!
We pray that He remain with us forever and Bless and Guide the community.
There is so much one can write on Iranshah that a book will be filled up.
Today He is housed in the peaceful village of Udvada, which hopefully
will be spared from commercialisation, industrialisation and the other
evils which convert the pavitra environment of our lovely villages
into urban mess.
It is the duty of each and every Zarathushti to look after Iranshah,
Udvada, the other 7 Atashbehrams, and our numerous Adarians and
Atash-Dadgahs.
There are many ways to do so. One is to ensure that the Fires in these
places get their daily kathi supplies. Kathi is the real food of the
Fires, it is the logs of wood which the boi-priests offer the Fires.
What we devotees offer as sandalwood is consumed in just minutes, it
is the kathi wood which really keeps the Fires going. Hence, it is
imperative that the Atashbehram-Agiary has adequate supply of kathi.
We can offer help there by contributing to their kathi funds or
offering to grow kathi wood if we live in rural areas.
Mr. Rustom Chothia's Kathi Appeal is circulated periodically on TZML,
and those interested may contact Mr. Chothia on chothia@vsnl.com
Another way to look after our places of worship is to be trustees in
the Agiary Board. Some people can offer professional help, if they
have a construction, painting, architect background, so that the
building can be looked after. Lawyers and solicitors can help the
trustees in legal affairs.
The Fire Temples are what our ancestors left us for safekeeping and
patronage, lets keep them in good condition and Burning and Alive for
future Zarathushtis to come.
On the Salgreh day, there will be a big function at Udvada.
Those who attend may send us a report of the jashan, the guests, the
community lunch, and other ceremonies which take place at Udvada on
Adar roj (Wed, 25 April).
Photographs too are most welcome.
Salgreh of other Agiaries too on Adar mah, Adar roj
These then are the Adorable Agiaries whose salgrehs too fall on Adar
mah, Adar roj.
(in chronological order)
1. Seth Banaji Limji Daremeher, Fort, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1078 (1709), hence it is 298 years old
It is the oldest agiary in Mumbai!
2. Seth Maneckji Navrozji Seth Agiary, Bazargate Gate Street, Fort, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1102 (AD 1733), hence it is 274 years old.
3. Seth Dadabhai Dhanjibhai and Sohrabji Shapurji Gabba Daremeher,
Billimora, Gujarat
The book by Mr. Giara says it was consecrated in the year YZ 1289
(1899), hence it is 87? / 108? years old.
4. Seth Jivanji Jamaspji Mistry Adarian, Syedpura, Surat
Consecrated in the year YZ 1266 (1897), hence it is 110 years old
5. Seth Pirojsha Ardeshir Patel Agiary, Andheri, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1277 (1908), hence it is 99 years old
6. Dorabji Edulji Jamsina or Mithaiwalla Agiary, Grant Road, Mumbai
Consecrated in the year YZ 1280 (1911), hence it is 96 years old
7. Seth Nanabhoy Bejanji Choski Daremeher, Panchgani
Consecrated in the year YZ 1300 (1931), hence it is 76 years old
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Tehemton B. Adenwalla (encl. photos of Iranshah and a song on Adar -
Ahura Mazda na putra)
Dear fellow Zarathushtis,
To: TZML - Traditional Zarathushtrian Mailing List ]
cc:
Vada Dasturjis, Ervad Sahebs,
Bombay Parsee Punchayat (BPP),
Zoroastrian Studies,
Religious Anjumans,
Priestly Madrassas,
Traditional Zoroastrian Home page moderators,
TMYZ officials,
prominent Zarathushtis, etc
Just yesterday we sent you the report from Mrs. Pervin Mistry
explaining how wrong adoption was for Parsis - both from the religious
and legal point of view.
On the heels of that letter, we have received a report from Mr Noshir
Dadrawalla, where he has explained the legal matters connected with
it.
You may also study the expert opinion of Noshirbhai, who has been
writing on community affairs for more than 20 years!
Mrs Pervin Mistry says: "This rebuttal is written by Noshir Dadrawala.
It needs to be circulated widely so Parsis everywhere know the truth
regarding the adoption issue as well as what level of ignorance these
ARZ folks possess! They only end up displaying their foolishness every
time they pen something!
This is a very good response to ARZ's Vispy Wadia who thinks he can
promote wrong, anti religious practices without being held
accountable! It is a fact that the Wadia brothers have displayed total
ignorance about religious, legal, historical and social matters every
time they have tried to show off their "power" to alter our divinely
revealed scriptures, rituals and time-honoured traditions.
Please read the response given by Noshir and do circulate this so the
gullible do not get carried away. Thanks.
So here it is dear friends the authoritative opinion of Mr Dadrawalla
on this subject.
Sincerely
TZML Admins (please see below)
Parsis And Adoption - A Legal Analysis
By Noshir H. Dadrawala
This has reference to Mr. Vispy N. Wadia's article,
"Adoption………………..Nothing Illegal About It" (JJW April 22, 2007).
The only codified law available for adoption in India is THE HINDU
ADOPTION AND MAINTENANCE ACT (HAMA ). This Act came into force in 1956
and is applicable to:
· any person who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or
development;
· any person who is a Buddhist, Jain or Sikh;
· any person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew;
· any child legitimate or illegitimate whose parents are
Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs;
· any child legitimate or illegitimate one of whose parents
are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs and has been so brought up;
· any abandoned child, legitimate or illegitimate of unknown
parentage brought up as a Hindu, Buddhist, etc.;
· any person who is a convert to the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or
Sikh religion.
It is clear from the above that HAMA is NOT APPLICABLE TO PARSIS.
THE GUARDIAN AND WARD ACT (GWA) 1890
The Personal law of Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews does not
recognize complete adoption. In India, as non-Hindus do not have an
enabling law to adopt a child legally, those desirous of adopting a
child can only take the child in 'guardianship' under the provisions
of 'The Guardian and Wards Act, 1890' (GWA).
GWA, however, does not provide to the child the same status as a child
born biologically to the family.
Unlike a child adopted under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act,
1956 the child cannot become their own or inherit their property by
right.
The GWA confers only a guardian-ward relationship. This legal
guardian-ward relationship exists until the child completes 21 years
of age.
Under the GWA, persons belonging to communities such as Muslim,
Christian, Parsi or Jew and who wish to adopt can only take up
"guardianship" of the child. In India, under Indian laws, such
children do not enjoy the same status as those of a biological child.
In fact, under GWA the term 'Guardian' means minor for whose person or
property or both, there is a guardian.
The term 'Ward' means a minor for whose person or property or both,
there is a guardian.
In other words, if a Parsi parent desires to 'adopt' a child, the
latter would not legally be considered "as if born to" the adoptive
individual or couple.
Incidentally, even Islam does not recognize adoption. In Mohammed
Allahdad Khan v. Mohammad Ismail it was held that there is nothing in
the Mohammedan Law similar to adoption as recognized in the Hindu
System. Parsi Zoroastrians also hold the same view.
With reference to the recent case of the 'Navjote' of the 'adopted'
girl child by the Bangalore-based Parsi couple, Noshir and Phiroza
Rustomji the legal position is quite clear:
mere performance of 'Navjote' ceremony on a child whose parentage is
unknown cannot make him/her a 'Parsi Zoroastrian';
even assuming that with performance of the 'Navjote', the child has
been initiated as a 'Zoroastrian', it still does not make him/her a
'Parsi Zoroastrian' and, as such, the child cannot enjoy as of legal
right the benefits of religious institutions which have been lawfully
established under Deeds of Settlement and Trust for the benefit of
'Parsi Zoroastrians Only'.
(end of Noshir Dadrawalla's article)
