Secunderabad’s Zoroastrian Club organized a gala Navroz Fusion Fiesta at the Parsi Dharamsala on 21^st March, 2024, with lots of community members – from tiny tots to super seniors – performing in the Dharamsala’s pavilion, to a jam-packed, 880-strong audience, comprising people from all communities making a beeline to soak in the Parsi cultural atmosphere and sample the amazing cuisine. An elaborate Navroz table was also set up at the venue.

President of the Zoroastrian Club, Jehangir Bisney, gave a warm welcome address, followed by an auspicious Humbandagi and a soulful Monajat performed by 11 Hyderabad Agiary children, dressed in Parsi jhablas, trained by Farida Antia. Next up was a game of Housie. In his welcome address, Jehangir Bisney said that this Navroz celebration was dedicated to the cherished memory of two Parsi stalwarts who passed away last year – Omim Debara and Havovi Patel – known for their dynamism and fighting spirit. He expressed gratitude to the Trustees of the Parsi Dharamsala for providing the free venue, the sponsors, celebrity guest – Behram Siganporia, Mehernavaz Aria and team, participants, caterer Abad Wadia, the press, and his dedicated Managing Committee – for making the event a stupendous success.

A show, titled, ‘Anaika’, featured the migration from Persia led by priests from the Secunderabad Agiary. A skit followed, with Jehangir and Meher Irroni showcasing a Parsi wedding, with the bride, in her Chantilly lace sari, brought to the venue in a vintage car. She was followed by a procession of lovely ladies flaunting their gorgeous garas on stage. The audience showered thunderous applause onto Parsis enacting Zoroastrian Legends including Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, industrialist & Bharat Ratna – JRD Tata, freedom fighter Bhikaji Cama, actor Boman Irani, singer Freddie Mercury, noted jurist Nani Palkhivala, the Father of India’s atomic programme – Homi Bhabha, vaccine king – Cyrus Poonawalla, cricketer – Farokh Engineer and music maestro – Zubin Mehta – thanks to the practice sessions conducted for weeks, by Star Ventures’ Mehernavaz Aria and her son Daanesh. Behram Siganporia’s band ‘Best Kept Secret’ from Bangalore kept the audience on their feet.

The pièce de résistance was a cat-walk showcasing exquisite gara embroidery in the form of saris, skirts, dresses and palazzos worn by Parsis from the twin cities – Secunderabad and Hyderabad. Mehernosh Dittia’s drone photography captured the arial view of the event, for posterity. The eve concluded with a rendition of the National Anthem and a feast of Parsi delicacies. (View the event on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPnjN0y-jAk or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EeHWos1CQU)

[Courtesy: Beyniaz Edulji]