Marking its 193rd Salgreh on 17th December, 2019, the Godavara Gamadia Agiary – a Grade II-A heritage structure – located at Fort, which was in a dilapidated condition and had therefore been shut for renovations, was reopened to the community. A Jashan was performed by Panthaki, Er. Firdaus Pavri and Er. Rohinton Pavri at the Agiary in the evening at 5:00 pm.

The eight-month long restoration process of the Agiary, which comes under the supervision and caretaking of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), was carried out at a cost of ₹35 lakhs. Over 150 humdins visited the re-opening of the Agiary, which was refurbished under architect, Jamshid Bhiwandiwalla.  The overhauling involved correcting leakages in the building, tiling, smoke-ducts and proper ventilation, etc. One of the challenges faced during the process of restoration was working around a tree had grown inside the fire temple.

Speaking to Parsi Times, Panthaki Er. Firdaus Pavri said, “I would like to thank the whole community and specially the BPP for fulfilling their promise and renovating the Agiary.”

Though the daily footfall of the Godavara Gamadia Agiary, which houses the Grade II of the Holy Fire, doesn’t exceed 10-15 visits, it is hoped that the renewed structure will attract increase in the number of devotees visiting. The holy fire was consecrated on February 2, 1826, in the Godavara Gamadia Agiary, which was earlier a bungalow owned by Seth Jamshedji Jejeebhoy, who then donated it to the Godavara priests. Here’s looking forward to a lot more community members visiting the Godavara Gamadia Agiary to seek blessings from one of the oldest holy fires in the city.

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Photo Courtesy Ervad Firdaus Pavri, Panthaki of Godavara Gamadia Agiary