Avan Yazad Parabh re-affirms “Change and Continuity co-exist peacefully”

22 March 2026 was a day celebrated the world over… as World Water day!  Equally auspicious for us Zoroastrians as our precious Avan Ardavisur Banu Parab … Avan Mah Avan Roj!

A Zoroastrian tradition of celebrating Avan Yazad Parab was pioneered 52 years ago by Mr Dinshaw Merchant and Mr Rustomjee Kuka, is now continued by the Avan Yazad Organising Committee spearheaded by Mr Kersi J Limathwalla, under the auspices of the M J Wadia Fire Temple Trust.  The annual event with The Bombay Presidency Radio Club as its venue has only grown more in strength and in its mission of going to Nature’s God through Nature.

A Jashan headed by Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastur displayed uniqueness of a vibrant kind where there was convergence of fire at the banks of the Arabian Sea. A setting Khorshed Yazad blended with a rising Mah Bokhtar thereby emphasising the concept of change with continuity,  setting the stage for the theme of the day, “Continuity or Change – the Eternal Dilemma”.

With a sincere thanks to all donors who had contributed towards organising this function, the ever gracious EMCEE for the evening, Zarine Commissariat, on behalf of the Avan Yazad Organising Committee, welcomed Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastur, Chief Guest Er Dr Ramiyar Karanjia, the BPP Trustees, Er Burjorji Antia and the wonderful ever-increasing audience .

The programme started with a soul-stirring Monajat by Mrs Havovi R Karanjia.  Chairman Trustee Mr Kersi Limathwalla welcomed all present with a very profound statement.  “In every change, there’s an element of continuity and in every continuity, there’s a subtle change!  Both co-exist peacefully”.  Nature works with clock-work precision, yet there are revolutionary changes.  We are living in a state of continuous biological, technological and spiritual flux.  While changes may be evident in language, dress, diet and practices our basic Zoroastrian values of charity, compassion, integrity and honesty remain unchanged forever!  He emphasized the need to embrace good positive changes, discard negativity and evolve positively on the path of development and progress.  Like Khordad Ameshaspand who has Her domain over the waters, we must aim at positive perfection to attain salvation.

Udwada Vada Dasturji Khurshed Dastur led a prayer of 3 Ashem Vohus for peace and fortitude to those who have lost their dear ones in the worldly tyrannical devastation.  He lamented that “Geush Urvaan” our Mother Earth weeps over this worldwide destruction and we are indeed blessed to be in the panaah of our Daadaar Ahura Mazda.  We have the same Sun, Moon, Earth and yet everything’s different with a changed mindset of man! So stop the infighting, be united, pray, think, speak and do good in this journey called Life and live harmoniously as children of One Ahura Mazda.

Our Chief Guest Er Dr Ramiyar Karanjia started his talk with a wonderful example where water is a perfect epitome of change and continuity.  Water is flexible and ever-changing as it takes the shape of its container, but it is also forever constant in its molecular formula.  Likewise, religion also can subtly change in its peripheral aspect like dress, diet, language, lifestyle (especially hinting at our peaceful Parsi nature).  But any changes in the core values of religion are UNACCEPTABLE!  He emphasized that we should necessarily cling on to our core values like   1. NOT allowing conversion 2. NOT allowing inter-marriages (After all, it is in our hands alone to protect, preserve and cherish our religion)  3. NOT allowing our Atashbehrams or Agiaries to be open to non-Zoroastrians  4. NO cremation where dokhmenashini is present! These core values alone have helped us to survive for over 1300 years.

On the other hand, urbanization implies change hence right changes are very much required:

1.  Structured religious knowledge in the community is a must.  2.  Continue to learn our prayers.  3. Do not be ‘controversy-oriented’, be non-judgemental.  4. Be health-conscious, in fact treat health as sacred, just like religion.  5. Infuse religion in the house along with our Parsipanu eg.  keep a small clean nook where family prays together at home, or keep a little muktad table, observe festivals like Navroze, New Year and Khordad Sal together as a family and essentially love your religion.  6. Do not complain or lament  7. Read and learn from errors in History and do not repeat them.  Er Ramiyar concluded that “change and continuity will together help us progress and prosper”.

A wonderful vote of thanks was proposed by Advocate Zerick Dastur who emphasized honesty, charity and integrity as values of a true Zoroastrian which should never be compromised upon.  Parents must ensure at least 10 minutes dedication to God from the 1440 minutes in a day, so children have a connective bond with God.  Our prayers are based on Stoata Yasna (vibrations) where Mithra and Manthra together, if done with sincerity and intent help us connect to God.  Most of all, he  stressed that our various Trusts and Funds have created a circle of interdependence where a needy deserving youth is financially supported, educated, provided opportunities and he in turn helps other youth and this chain reaction will set our youth on the runway to success.

With our Zoroastrian and National Anthems, the event ended with all partaking dar ni pori prepared by Parsilicious and Food Safari.

The M J Wadia Fire Temple Trust has truly spread its wings with Structured Religious Course by Course Director Er Dr Ramiyar Karanjia imparting religious information.  This Course is on the first Sunday of every month and covers not only topics from Avesta like our Farajyat prayers and the Gathas but even other topics like Jamaspi and Rebirth, from a Zoroastrian perspective,  the ZoroKids class for children by a wonderful dedicated team of teachers, and the Meditation class.  Those interested in joining, please contact Roxane Desai 9819379345 or Kobad Gheewala 9920374154 as we now meet on 05 April 2026 in person at the M J Wadia Agiary Hall, Lalbaug, at 11 am or you could avail of our Zoom Online facility, with a topic as intriguing and interesting as Reincarnation – A Zoroastrian Perspective.