– Donations Towards Community Project Requested-

Community members will be pleased and proud to know, that our most sacred Doongerwadi’s critical need for urgent renovations has been addressed diligently by the BPP, thanks to the response from our generous community members, who stepped up to contribute towards the complete refurbishment of this magnificent, three hundred-year-old establishment which has been providing community members solace and serenity, in addition to rendering the final resting place for our dearly deceased.

Spread over 55 acres, atop the Malabar Hills area, Doongerwadi, which is managed by the BPP, has served as an unmatched haven of peace and natural tranquility for Humdins for centuries. In keeping with the passage of time, it has been in critical need of complete overhauling of most of its structures – some on an urgent basis, primarily its holiest structure – the Dokhma, followed by other areas including Bunglis, the forest cover, utility areas and roadways.

BPP raised a Community Call for humdins to donate towards the much-needed repairs, starting with the Dokhma. Community members have shown noble generosity and helped accumulate the requisite funds for its restoration. As the donations received so far have exceeded the estimated budget for the Dokhma repairs, the Trustees intend to channelize the surplus amount towards the restoration and refurbishment of other structures which are also in urgent need for repair.

Over the last year, the BPP, as a Joint Community Project supported by our magnanimous donors, has rendered great progress in refurbishing Doongerwadi with the revamping of the Forest Cover, and more recently, the complete overhauling of the Nahan Area and the Washroom, transforming these from being nearly unusable, to a spanking new look, supplemented with top-quality facilities.

 

In keeping with continued efforts towards restorations, currently, both the Jaiji Khurshedji Bhabha Bunglis (I and II) are being refurbished, thanks to our munificent donor couple – Noshir Cowasji Gotla and his wife, Katy Noshir Gotla – who have, in addition to their monetary donation, also taken out the time to personally manage and supervise the entire overhauling of all external repairs and an internal make-over of both the Bunglis. Their active involvement has been inspiring for Doongerwadi visitors who often get to catch a glimpse of the magnanimous couple overseeing the construction.

However, there is still need on an urgent basis for other structures that need immediate repair, and for the same, the BPP looks to the continued donations from community members to contribute towards other major undertakings, which include complete repairs for Hodiwalla Bungli and both Bennet Bunglis – No. 5 and 6; the living areas and conditions of our pall-bearers; the Pavillions (Upper Bungli Big Pavillion and Upper Bungli Small Pavillion) which need comprehensive work for roofing, flooring, painting; the four Halls at the Agiary/Sagdi level which need painting and electrical fittings redone; and the Resting Area for Dasturjis and the Resting Area for pall bearers.

Speaking to Parsi Times, Vistaspar Mehta, Manager of Doongerwadi, said, “Team Doongerwadi conveys heartfelt gratitude to Community members for their generosity in contributing towards the renovation of the Nahan-Khana (Bathing room for the pall bearers or khandiyas, pre and post putting the body of the deceased inside the Dokhma), which was very much needed is very much appreciated by them. We are also grateful to the Trustees of the ‘Bai Maneckbai P B Jeejeebhoy Trust Fund’ for renovation of the common toilet block at the Upper Bungli level, as also to Mr. Noshir Cowasji Gotla and Mrs. Katy Noshir Gotla for complete renovation including roof repairs of the ‘Bai Jaiji  Cursetjee Bhabha’ Bungli No.1 and 2. We pray for all Parsi and Irani Zoroastrians to unitedly have faith in our eco-friendly and time tested ‘Dokhmenashini’. With the renovated facilities, we now look forward to more families of the deceased using the Bunglis for the four-day obsequies for their beloved departed.”

The BPP Trustees, considered the community’s leaders and visionaries, have been effectively and successfully showing the way forward by involving comm members in various projects – thereby renewing and fostering the much needed sense of trust and faith between the humdins and the Trustees via such joint community projects.