The Asha Vahishta Dadgah in Pune celebrated its second Salgreh with piety, religious fervor and zeal, as it entered its third year of enthronement, on 25^th December, 2019. A thanksgiving Jashan ceremony was performed by the priests at 10:30 am, followed by a contributory Maachi offered to the Dadgahsaheb.

As always, the venue was packed to the gills and extra seating arrangements were made for the overflowing devotees in the open compound area. It was a heartening scene to see so many young chidren along with their parents attending the Jashan and the celebrations thereafter. Apart from visitors from Pune and Mumbai, there were many who came in from Dahanu, Surat, Navsari, Ahmedabad and even from Jamshedpur and Jabalpur, to specially attend the function.

After the Jashan ceremony, the celebrations continued in the open compound area of the premises, wherein the talented and professional musicians and artistes performed and rendered live, soulful traditional Parsi Gujarati folk songs, monajats and entertainment music. The gathering greatly appreciated the performance, as most of them also participated in chorus singing and rendering the melodious Parsi folk songs. The event concluded with delicious a Parsi meal for all and the distribution of Chasni – Jashan malido and fruits.

Established in 2017, ‘Asha Vahishta – The Zoroastrian Center’, houses a community hall, a prayer hall, a library and a Dadgah fire. Located at Pune’s NIBM Road (Kondhwa), the Dadgah keeps its doors open to intermarried Parsis and their children, as also Zoroastrian enthusiasts who seek a greater understanding about the religion. Built over 5,500 square feet, the two-storeyed construction houses a community hall, a prayer hall, a library and a Dadgah fire and is open for visits 7 days a week, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The center has been receiving constant bookings to hold religious ceremonies including Machi prayers, navjotes, marriages as well as the 4-day prayer of those who have opted for cremation. It is spearheaded by brothers Vispy and Kerssie Wadia, who aim to provide a dignified alternative to Parsi Zoroastrians who are discriminated against or excommunicated from entering religious places of worship.