The WZO Trust Funds (WZOTF) and the Athornan Mandal organized an interactive session with Vada Dasturji Dr. Firoze Kotwal, explaining the ‘Significance of Muktad Rituals and Prayers’ at the Mancherji Joshi Hall at the Dadar Athornan Institute, on 22nd July, 2018. Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastur delivered the welcome address, followed by Ervad Aspandiyar Dadachanji highlighting the level of stress endured by the priests during the Muktad period. Marking another milestone of the Mobed Welfare Scheme, the event was ably compered by WZOTF’s frontrunner, Dinshaw Tamboli and commenced with a Humbandi led by Er. Kaizad Karkaria, followed by a short prayer in memory of late Er. Malcolm Hozdar who passed away after a battle with cancer last weekend.
Vada Dasturji Khurshed described Vada Dasturji Kotwal as the living encyclopaedia of Zoroastrianism and reminisced how years ago the Muktad ritual would be performed at one’s own home, and that these practices still continue in certain parts of Gujarat and Mumbai. Emphasising the most important element during muktads are the prayers we offer, Vada Dasturji Khurshed also mentioned the importance of charity especially during the Farvardegan days, as mentioned in the ‘Farvardin Yasht’. He encouraged the Mobeds with the exhortation of his Late Principal Rustomjee Panthaky to perform the rituals for all devotees with the utmost sincerity and genuineness.
Addressing the gathering, Vada Dasturji Firoze explained that rituals performed during the Muktad get conveyed to the Asho Farohars who transmit the same to the souls of our departed loved ones. The prayers bring in a sense of liberation and happiness to the souls of our loved ones who go on to shower their blessings on those who have the rituals performed.
Next, Er. Aspandiyar Dadachanji, known for his comprehensive knowledge about the Zoroastrian prayers and rituals, and his achievements of having tutored many Athornan boys and initiating them into the Zoroastrian faith, spoke about maintaining calm during the hectic Muktad period and showered light on the various difficulties a mobed faces in his routine life and how we could unanimously cope with it. “I have been practicing priesthood since 70 years. Our Athravan (Athornan) priests protect the Holy Fire and perform the necessary rituals.” The three speakers were felicitated by young students of the Dadar Madressa, followed by a vote of thanks by Er. Firoze Pavri. The function ended with ‘Chhaiye Hame Zarthoshti’ led by the students of the Dadar Madressa, followed by lunch catered by Er. Nariman Dalal.