A century after its inauguration, Mumbai’s historic Parsi War Memorial, located at Mumbai’s Khareghat Colony, became the focus of a moving community tribute on 2nd September, 2026, as military veterans, citizens and Zoroastrians gathered to honour the community’s fallen servicemen.
The commemoration, particularly significant during the memorial’s centenary year, was held during Frawardigan Parabh (Fravardin Roj, Fravardin Mah), the sacred day dedicated to remembering departed souls and guardian spirits. Special prayers were offered and wreaths laid before the cenotaph, while a naval bugler sounded the traditional military tribute, adding solemnity to the occasion.
Built in 1926, the memorial was created through a civilian community initiative to honour Zoroastrians who died doing their duty during the First World War, fought between 1914 and 1918. The war column was inaugurated by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy and bears its dedication in English, Gujarati and Avestan. Historical records associate the cenotaph with the names of 46 Parsi servicemen who sacrificed their lives during the Great War.
The memorial’s significance extends beyond World War I. Nearby plaques and memorials commemorate Parsi-Zoroastrian servicemen who fell during the Second World War, the 1962 India-China conflict and the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, ensuring that successive generations of community servicemen are not forgotten.
Among those attending the centenary-year ceremony was Commodore (Retd.) Aspi Marker, 1971 India-Pakistan war and 1999 Kargil conflict veteran. Having served in the Indian Navy from 1969 to 2005, he also helped ensure the presence of a Navy bugler at the annual commemoration.
The memorial is maintained by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, which manages Khareghat Colony. The annual ceremony is organised by the Bombay Parsee Association, which has conducted memorial observances for over six decades, remembering Zoroastrian veterans of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The gathering remains open to community members and others wishing to pay their respects.
What makes the Khareghat Colony cenotaph especially remarkable is its civilian origin. Built by the community rather than the military, it represents an extraordinary expression of collective gratitude from one of India’s smallest communities to its men who served and sacrificed in war. One hundred years later, the memorial remains far more than stone and inscription. Through prayer, remembrance and the inspiring call of the bugle, it continues to connect today’s generation with a proud legacy of courage, patriotism, service and supreme sacrifice.
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