Adil J. Govadia Recently, in mid-January 2025, my wife and I visited a 222-year-old Adarian Saheb in Amroli village, situated 12 kms from Surat railway station. The antiquated structure is extremely simple, devoid of outward trappings of a typical Dar-e-Mehr, almost passing as a private residential bungalow. The access to the Dar-e-Mehr is through a […]
Adil J. Govadia The exact historical data of Parsi arrival in Mysore or Bangalore remains uncertain as most of the available data is oral and not documented. Only in 1933 was an attempt made by Seth Faramji Cawasji Shroff to chronicle the outlines of Parsi relocation to Bangalore, in his book titled ‘Bangalore-ni Parsi Aaramgah-ni […]
Adil J. Govadia As explained earlier, Spenta and Angra are the two impersonal and universally opposing primeval spirits or Minos (Shaktis), while man’s endeavour is to convert his Angra-tainted Urvan (soul) into the Spenta-enlightened spiritual light of Wisdom. Thus, over several rebirths, man learns from experience and wisdom to practice Humata (good thoughts), Hukhta (good […]
Adil J. Govadia It is said that life is a school where civilizations have learnt to evolve and unfold, consciously or unconsciously. And though the lights of heart, mind and bodily perceptions are luminous, their glow relatively is dim as compared to the radiance of the soul which is intensely brilliant due the acquired wisdom […]
Adil J. Govadia History generally is defined as the ‘collective memories of a society’. The history of Parsi-Zoroastrians India is often debated. The narrative of the preservation of their religious identity as also the courageous voyage from Iran to India, is recognized and recorded… like the historical footprints of India’s early Parsi-Zoroastrian settlers, those little […]
Within a radius of 150 sq. kms of Belgaum (Karnataka), there are six Parsi Aaramgahs and two fully functional Dar-e-Mehrs with residential quarters for priests and sprawling open spaces and gardens. In the early 20th century, the townships of Hubli, Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Gulbarga and Bijapur had a good Parsi population, with an Aaramgah in […]
Adil J. Govadia Ancient religions are known to use allegory* as a powerful literary tool to convey complex ideas and ethical lessons through exemplary representations. (An allegory is a parable that displays a deeper moral lesson like the ‘Hare and Tortoise’ story which underlines a hidden message – ‘slow and steady wins the race’!) By […]
The three Nilgiris townships of Ooty, Coonoor and Wellington (in Tamil Nadu), collectively make a picturesque hill-station, first discovered in the early 1820s. Seth Pestonji Nusserwanji Bottlewalla, the first Parsi to reach Ooty in 1829, along with brothers Jehangirji and Framji, established a general provision store, ‘Europe Shop’, which catered to the British Army. In […]
In 1791-92, after Tipu Sultan’s invasion of Malabar region, Seth Hirjee Manekji Kharas first arrived in Tellicherry to explore business opportunities. He purchased a piece of land named ‘Pimole Mala’, renamed ‘Parsi Kannu’, on which was built a Parsi Aaramgah. Later, in 1797, Seth Bomanji Ratanji Captain built a Prayer Hall on the same premises […]
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 – […]
Parsi Times presents the concluding part of our 4-part series by Adil J. Govadia, which explains the different grades of our Holy Fires and their crucial importance in our religion and our lives. In Zoroastrianism, the term ‘Dadgah’, which is derived from the Avestan word, ‘Daityogatu’, meaning, ‘a lawful place’, is used in different ways. […]