THE CALL OF FAITH – Zerick Dastur

Lawyer Zerick Dastur completes his Maratab and becomes a full-fledged Parsi priest… Dynamic young lawyer and Jam-e-Jamshed columnist, Ervad Zerick Dastur, is now a fullfledged Parsi priest, having formally taken his rank in Ahura Mazda’s army of devout Athornans! Zerick completed his Maratab on January 18, 2021 (Khordad roj Shehrevar mah), at the Vatcha Gandhi Agiary in Mumbai under the guidance and mentorship of Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji. The Maratab ceremony for initiation into priesthood was performed by Ervad Khushrow Kanga. Zerick underwent the sacred and rigorous Bareshnoom from January 9-18 as part of the Maratab process. As a schoolboy, Zerick had completed Navar, also at the Vatcha Gandhi Agiary, under the watchful tutelage of Ervad Asphandiar Dadachanji, so the Maratab was a homecoming of sorts. Explaining the reason for the longish gap between his Navar and Maratab initiations, Zerick confessed: “It is something, which I had wanted to complete for quite some time but had kept postponing due to work commitments.” Now that his mission is accomplished, he is understandably elated. “It is indeed an honour and privilege to be initiated as a full-fledged Mobed by completing my Maratab. I am delighted that I am now able to personally perform the Boi kriya and tend to the Holy Fire. The 10 days I spent at the Vatcha Gandhi Agiary for my Maratab is an experience that I will always cherish. The exposure to our religious rituals, ceremonies and the daily discourse with Ervad Asphandiar, Panthaky Saheb of the Vatcha Gandhi Fire Temple, where he imparted knowledge on diverse aspects of our religion and prayers, made the experience even more enriching.” Ervad Zerick has blazed an inspirational trail for other successful professionals from Athornan families who, like him, can consider priestly duties alongside their high-profile career commitments. It’s not easy, but absolutely invaluable. To be a guardian of the Holy Fire is an honour given to but a few – very few