With the gradual increase of the Parsi population in Bangalore, there was an acute need to have a Dar-e-Mehr was installed. Seth Kaikhashroo D. Belgaumwalla first mooted the idea of installing a consecrated Dar-e-Mehr in Bangalore, which was later spearheaded by Seth Meherwanji M. Merchant along with Seth Ferdoonji Fakirji Dhalla, the Boyce brothers – Rustomji and Nusserwanji and Seth Hormuzji Fardoonji Marker, Executive Engineer – Mysore State. They successfully launched a collection drive during the most difficult period of world’s history in 1923, when the world was grinding through a severe economic depression. Despite the cash crunch due to the just concluded WW I, they managed to raise the then handsome amount of Rs. 35,000/-.

Providence too conspired appropriately in maneuvering and synchronizing man, money and machinery in the right place and at the right time, as earnest benefactors like Seth Nussarwanji Dinshaw (Adenwalla), Seth Rustomji Boyce and Seth D. Cawasji magnanimously contributed towards the worthy cause.  Seth D. Cawasji singularly donated a significant sum of Rs. 15,000/- towards building of a Dar-e-Mehr in memory of his late parents – Bai Dhunmai and Seth Cawasji Dadabhoy (Daruwalla).

Seth Nussarwanji Mirza, one of the most active Trustees of that period, made many futile attempts to locate a suitable plot of land for the Dar-e-Mehr, which was finally located in the Cantonment area, and purchased for a sum of Rs. 8,106/-. Thus, despite all difficulties that confronted the Trustees, they were able to not only raise funds but also identify a suitable plot of land upon which to build the holy structure.

On 21^st December, 1924, the sacred ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the Dar-e-Mehr was performed by Bai Bachamai T. Kapadia, daughter of Seth Rustomji N. Boyce and wife of Dr. Tehmurasp P. Kapadia, a popular dentist and worthy Trustee of Bangalore Anjuman. Thereafter, the work on the holy structure progressed efficiently under the able supervision of Seth Hormuzji F. Marker, whose engineering skills and aesthetic designs are appreciated even today. Er. Pestonji Jamshedji Unvalla, Panthaky at Sukkur (present-day Pakistan), was identified and appointed as the first Panthaky of bangalore’s newly built Dar-e-Mehr.

The consecration of a Dar-e-Mehr is an elaborate process, when two Yaozdatregar Mobeds from Udwada, namely Er. Jamshedji Rustomji Katila and Er. Behramji Jamshedji Unwalla (Er. Pestonji Unvalla’s brother), were invited for the final ceremony. The holy ‘Aalat’ (ritualistic implements) required for the consecration of the Dar-e-Mehr, along with the Mobeds in Bareshnoom, were especially brought in by car from Udwada, with full religious sanctions, personally driven by Seth D. Cawasji.

In order to avoid spiritual contamination of the Aalat and the Mobed’s Bareshnoom, only two stops were made during their three-day’s journey from Udwada to Bangalore – one at Dadiseth Atash Behram in Bombay and the other at Belgaum’s Dar-e-Mehr. Thanks to the Boyce Trust Funds of Mumbai, no expenses were spared to ensure that the ‘Aalat’ and the two Mobed Sahebs were brought to Bangalore, in keeping with all the religious tarikats and prescribed religious injunctions.

The consecration ceremony was conducted for three successive days and nights, with sequential performance of three Ijshnes (Yasna) and three Vendidads, that culminated into a Jashan ceremony on the fourth day, 8^th February, 1926, Mah Sherevar-Roz Ardibehesht (YZ 1295), which coincided with the death anniversary of D. Cawasji’s father (Seth Cawasji Dadabhai). The Jashan ceremony, performed by Sardar Dastur Kaikobad Aderbad (Vada Dastur of Deccan, Pune) and Bangalore’s new Panthaky Er. Pestonji J. Unwalla, formally inaugurated the new Dar-e-Mehr.

A grand dinner was arranged by the Anjuman to celebrate the auspicious occasion and over three hundred Parsis attended, many of whom had come from far and wide, including Mysore, Bombay, Madras, Hyderabad, Calicut and Poona.

At the inaugural function, an unexpected incident almost cancelled the installation of the Holy Fire, when a reputed and well-respected member of the community secured a court injunction on the plea that the portrait of Seth Hormuzji Kanga, whose wife, Bai Motibai Kanga, had donated Rs. 4,000/- towards construction of the Priest’s Quarters, cannot be installed ‘bareheaded’ in a Dar-e-Mehr! This hiccup was quickly nipped in the bud by some of the swift-thinking and wise community leaders, who intervened and hurriedly got a commercial artist to ‘paint’ a Pheta (Parsi headgear) on the portrait’s head! Thereafter, the court injunction was lifted and the function was allowed to proceed as planned. Such was the religious fervor of our great ancestors who never compromised with religious traditions and beliefs.

Thus, after all those years of planning, dreaming and hard work, Seth Kaikhushroo D. Belgaumwalla’s vision of installing a consecrated Dadgah Saheb in Bangalore was successfully achieved with the divine grace of Dadar Ahura Mazda.

Er. Pestonji Unvalla selflessly served the Bangalore Anjuman for almost 40 years and moved on to the spiritual world in 1965. He played an integral part in edifying and establishing the Parsi community in Bangalore. His funeral was unique in many ways as his body was taken to the Dokhma by a hand-pushed hearse with Parsi volunteers led by the likes of known Parsi personalities including Seth Dara Shroff, Seth Gusti Hormusji and Seth Pesi Dhunbhoora.