Why is ‘Kusti’ to be done in all Gehs?

How many of us have asked this question in our minds but not sought an explanation?

Behram P Dhabhar offers a simple answer :

QUOTE

On account of the malefic forces of Asere Tariki our Aipee is iunder constant bombardment and loses its lustre (Khoreh). This is why we perform the kusti ritual so as to keep our Aipee clean. The body emanates constant waste matter in terms of sweat, gases, etc, which also pollute the Aipee. A kusti done in one geh will last only for that time period since on change of the geh on account of Gashak, Asere Roshni gets interrupted and Asere Tariki becomes powerful. We therefore have to perform the new kusti on change of every geh and also after we answer the call of nature since the Aipee suffers contamination on emmission of waste matter.

Ushahin geh has the longest Gashak period of 100 minutes. Though for a normal zarathushtri kusti is allowed even in the Gashak period, prayers cannot be recited. It is permitted only after 2.30 am. The period from 3 am to sunrise is the most auspicious period for prayers since the Asere tatiki is virtually absent. I have noticed that if one prays during this period or either of the two Hoshbams, the concentration on prayers is maximum. When we pray in any of the daytime gehs, the mind tends to wander. This has been my expeirnce.

UNQUOTE