WAPIZ NAVJOTE

WAPIZ had received a donation from Mrs. Soonu Hoshang Buhariwalla in December to sponsor the Navjote ceremony of 2 Parsi children. WAPIZ had put out a whatsapp message asking for applications for any deserving Parsi family to avail of this opportunity. We received a couple of applications. One was through a social worker for 2 brothers who were 13 years and 17 years old whose Navjote has not been performed due to unfortunate family circumstances. They stay at Nallasopara with their mother Naheed. In fact the elder son was working at a restaurant washing dishes. First WAPIZ asked for their birth certificates to ensure that both parents are Parsi/ Irani Zarthosthtis. The Iranian Anjuman has also certified them as Irani Zoroastrians. Then we asked Dasturji Kotwal Saheb for his opinion as to whether such a Navjote can and should be performed as the age of the 2 brothers was beyond the traditionally accepted navjote age. Dasturji opined that “it is an exceptional situation…through no fault of the two young boys” and therefore WAPIZ should in fact initiate these 2 brothers into the Zathoshti faith. WAPIZ Team met the boys with their mother Naheed a two weeks ago. The day was spent with the family to do their navjote shopping. They had learnt the Navjote prayers but were not perfect. They were strictly told to practice till they were perfect.