Navsari’s Parsi community has intensified its opposition to a proposal by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to acquire a portion of the sacred Doongerwadi land for the four-laning of the Surat–Navsari highway, urging authorities to adopt an alternative alignment that preserves the sanctity of the site. The issue first arose earlier in 2025 […]
As the sacred days of Muktad approach, culminating in Navroze on 15th August, few embody the spirit of this deeply spiritual observance like Ervad Zarrir Bhandara. With over five decades of dedicated service, his journey reflects not just personal devotion but a powerful preservation of Zoroastrian ritual and legacy. In this heartfelt conversation with Parsi […]
Established in 1672, Mumbai’s historic Doongerwadi or Tower of Silence, located at Malabar Hill, has been honoured with a heritage plaque under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Mumbai Legacy Project. The pilot scheme commemorates the city’s cultural landmarks by installing informative markers at significant sites across Mumbai. The metal plaque stands near Doongerwadi’s main entrance at […]
As is usually the case during the monsoons, Parsi Times has yet again been receiving an increasing number of messages and communications from community members who have expressed much concern over the functionality of the existing sacred Dokhmenashini system (adapted from the original Sky Burial system), for the dignified disposal of the final remains of […]
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has shared plans to re-introduce vultures in Mumbai’s Doongerwadi (Tower of Silence) to counteract the dwindling numbers. BNHS will work with the community to achieve this objective. After having recently released ten long-billed vultures in Pench National Park and Tadoba Tiger Reserve for the same reasons, BNHS will extend […]
A new Hearse was donated to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet for the use of Doongerwadi, by Homai Dadachanji and children, in loving memory of her husband, late Shavak P. Dadachanji. The van was inaugurated by the donor in the presence of BPP Trustee Anahita Desai alongside other BPP and Doongerwadi personnel, on 8th December, 2023. The BPP […]
The impact of Covid 19 on society in general, and individuals and families in particular, is unprecedented. The world was taken by surprise in early 2020 and is still in a daze with the second and third wave getting more infectious and lethal. Indians across the country are grieving for the loss of their loved […]
An increasing number of residents and commuters in the Kemps Corner-Malabar Hill area have resorted to parking their vehicles inside the Doongerwadi, in keeping with the lack of parking space and the heavy fines imposed for wrongful parking in Mumbai. This has led to BPP, which manages the Doongerwadi, charging a fine of Rs. 500 […]
Our Community’s most holy, over 300-year-old, Doongerwadi in Mumbai, is in Urgent Need of Renovation and Green Cover Restoration. Immediate Repairs are needed for the Maintenance and upkeep of our Dokhmas; Bunglies; Road Repairs and for the restoration of the Green Cover/Forest area which provides the sense of calm and healing for all. The BPP, […]
For over 300 years now, our Community’s most sacred Dokhma in Mumbai, Doongerwadi (Estb. 1672), which is spread over 55 acres, atop the Malabar Hills area, has been unparalleled in terms of providing solace, serenity and according respect to the deceased as well as mourners. As one of our oldest and most holy structures maintained […]
On the 23rd of this month our Board will complete two years in office, a journey that has been as memorable as it has been gratifying. I can honestly say that I feel that we have achieved more in the last two years than what we achieved in the seven years of the last Board. […]