14th July, 2021 (Roj Ardibehest, Mah Asfandarmad), marked the glorious 101st salgreh of the Khan Bahadur Edulji Sohrabji Chenai Anjuman Dar-e-Meher, situated at MG road, in Secunderabad. Due to the ongoing pandemic restraints, public celebrations were toned down, like last year. A Machi in Havan Geh was held at 7:00 am, followed by a Salgreh Jashan at 10:30 am, post which light snacks and chasni was distributed.
Catering to over a thousand Parsis living in the city, the Dar-e-Meher is the youngest of the three fire temples present in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The Dar-e-Meher was built by Seth Jamshedji Edulji Chenoy, son of Khan Bahadur Seth Edulji Sohrabji Chenoy and Bai Pirojbai Edulji Chenoy, along with his brothers, in memory of their late father, during the reign of Osman Ali Khan – the last and seventh Nizam of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. Dastoor Khurshed Dastoor Behram Jamasp Asa consecrated the Dar-e-Meher during the reign of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan and King George V. The Chenoy family came to Hyderabad 200 years ago.
The Dar-e-Meher is situated opposite the ‘Seth Viccajee Meherji & Seth Pestonji Meherji Dar-e-Meher’, which is the oldest fire temple in the twin cities, built in 1839 and consecrated on 12th September, 1847. The ‘Bai Maneckji Nusserwanji Chenoy Dar-e-Meher’ (built in 1904), is located at Tilak Road, Abids and was built to serve Parsis living in that side of the city, due to lack of transport. Collectively, the three fire-temple compounds house 430 families in their residential flats.
A peaceful haven located amid a serene sanctuary, the 101-year-old architectural marvel – the Khan Bahadur Edulji Sohrabji Chenai Anjuman Dar-e-Meher, has been serving generations of Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians. May the long-standing, holy fire continue to bless our community!