Mumbai: Parsi body’s trustee in Bombay high court for prayer nod
MUMBAI: A trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) has moved the Bombay high court for permission to hold the annual Farvardiyan prayers at Doongerwadi to the departed souls on September 3.
The petition filed on Thursday by the BPP trustee, Viraf Mehta, through advocate Prakash Shah seeks special exemption for the prayers only on one day, just as the Jain community was granted permission for Paryushan at a few temples for two special days from the Supreme Court.
Mehta’s petition challenged the actions of the BMC and state government in denying permission to open public religious places of worship for followers and had sought special permission for fire temples and Doongerwadi to offer special prayers for the departed souls next month on the holy day of ‘Farvardin Roj’.
The petition said Parsis had “gone to great lengths to maintain their unique funeral rites and have made a few adjustments to keep up with the times and to not upset the neighbours”.
The petition sought orders to be permitted to perform the prayers at least at Doongerwadi with guidelines to be followed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
