Thoothi Agiary: Resplendent & Renovated |
| By
Shernaaz Engineer |
The spanking new 149-year-old Thoothi Agiary, refurbished and redone by the
efforts of a committed Zarathushti family, is all aglow with the glory and grace
of Dadar Ahura Mazda's bounty, as every Agiary should be 
It's
a landmark, almost beside the Raj Bhavan, down the ambling arc of Walkeshwar,
but one that was easily missed because it lay unkempt and worn out, like so many
of our Agiaries. But
the Sorabji Thoothi Agiary deserved better - and its recent revamp does it full
credit. Undertaken by the Bapuna siblings - Niloofer, Neville, Filly and Keki
- who voluntarily came forward to take on the task of renewing the Agiary, the
initiative of funding and getting the Fire Temple fully renovated under their
personal supervision was, indeed, a labour of their love and commitment toward
preserving the sanctity of our faith. INSPIRING
ZEAL: 
As
a result, the 149-year-old Agiary has been restored and beautified. The manner
in which it has been accomplished, with hours of painstaking involvement, is inspiring.
For over ten months, devoting their time and finances and co-ordinating with like-minded
persons who came on board to help partially to the extent they could, the Bapunas
pulled out all stops to ensure that the glory of the Agiary was not compromised
upon by ensuring the execution of every detail to high standards. 
There
are many who pitched in to assist in the materialising of this dream. Percy Master
got the painting done. Shahnaz Mahimtura and Jamshed Guzder also substantially
aided the effort. As a result, the Bapuna siblings could accomplish the task,
undertaken in the memory of their late grandparents, Ratanbai and Faramroze D.
Bapuna, with remarkable success. 
Not
undertaken with the intention of garnering any personal publicity or fame, the
Bapuna siblings are hopeful that this act will encourage more like-minded people
to come forward and join them in their ongoing endeavour to renovate more such
Agiaries that are in dire need of urgent attention. 
WISH
FULFILLMENT: They
hereby appeal to all Zarathushtis who would like to be part if this good cause,
to come forward and contact them, outlining the quantum of the support they can
offer so that they could consolidate such help and start with the immediate restoration
work of other fire temples. Keki Bapuna can be contacted on 98335 39222. Meanwhile,
the Trustees of the Sorabji Thoothi Agiary would like to invite all members of
the Zarathushti community to the Agiary and its sacred well, at Walkeshwar, which
is now in a beautiful condition and worthy of visiting and offering prayers in
the most salubrious of surroundings. Ervad
Kersi Gonda, who presides over the Agiary, is himself a devout and devoted keeper
of the faith and firmly affirms that no righteous wish made at the Thoothi Agiary
ever goes unfulfilled. Amen! |