2 Photos – 2 Navjotes in HongKong – Old Reminiscences
Photo # 1 1934
My two brothers’ Jal and Fram, had their Navjote at the Parsi Club, Hongkong around 1934. The photo was taken on the roof of the “Parsee Club”, the original Zoroastrian Building in Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, completed in 1931 and was the center of Parsi social life in Hong Kong.
Notice the Fire Symbol ( afrinagan). which was very prominent and seen from the roadside. Also the Parsees included their maid-servants (Amahs) in the photo. The guests include Parsees and non-Parsees.
Your readers may recognize some of the the prominent Parsees of Hongkong, like the Pavris the Shroffs, the Ruttonjees, the Dhabers, and others.
Shapurjee Johki, Parekh, Jehangir and son Dhun Ruttonjee , Behram Tavadia, Jal Patel, Dhabars,Norshir Pavri, the Shroffs,Talatis, Dr. Karanjia, Vasania, and others.
The #2 photo was taken at my sister Shirin and I (Pesi (that’s me) Navjote, which took place in the Ballroom/Dining Hall on the 8th floor of the Gloucester Hotel, Hongkong in 1947. The war in Hongkong was over in 1945, and strict food rationing was enforced.I guess all the Parsees wanting to celebrate the first get together of all Hongkong Parsees must have pooled their food ration coupons for this occasion.
It was a Gala event decorations, drinks and dinner-dance. I doubt if any Parsee was left out or not invited.
Some of the same people that attended in the 1934 Navjote Ceremony are also in the 1947 photo.
The Mobeds or Dastoorjis names (of the 1935 Navjote) I do not have.But I’m sure there were none in the 1947 one too but our Hongkong Parsees like Nari Pavri and others who were qualified to perform Zoroastrian Ceremonies. { (I am seated on the floor 3rd from left). My two sisters are in the center.And behind her is my Mom. My Dad is center top row. }
Regards
Pesi Jehangir Mahuvawalla
I knew Nari Pavri very well and liked him very much. He was such a nice man. My father was an American businessman and he worked with Nari. Nari was his broker in Hong Kong. I met Nari during my trips to Hong Kong with my father and Nari entertained us in his apartment at times. He was a very gracious man. I lost touch with him about 20 years ago upon my father’s death. What happened to Nari?