Beacons of Parsi Heritage

A NEW BOOK ON A HISTORIC WELL, A FRESHLY REOPENED MUSEUM AND THE REINSTALLATION OF THE PARSI GATE ON MARINE DRIVE GIVE US THREE REASONS TO CELEBRATE MUMBAI'S ZOROASTRIAN COMMUNITY

- Priya Pathiyan

Parsis, Zoroastrian immigrants from what was once Persia, have contributed much to the warp and weft of Mumbai's fabric. But what does it mean to be a Parsi today? Three recent celebrations of their culture will help to understand the community's ethos better.

WHERE HOPE AND FAITH WELL

Waternamah, a gorgeous new book put together by Bachi Karkaria, inimitable author and chronicler of Mumbai, is centred around the Bhikha Behram Well at Churchgate. The book captures the well's atmosphere and extends its scope to encompass the universal sacred and secular significance of water through the eyes of various experts. While non-Parsis cannot enter this sacred space since its stained-glass panels were vandalised by miscreants in 2004, we can nevertheless admire its beauty while passing by. The well has been restored by conservation architect Kirtida Unwalla in 1999 and again in 2023.

Karkaria, a regular visitor to the well, speaks about the 300-year-old structure's serenity despite being in the bustling heart of the city. “Touching its stone, I get an instant connect with history and community,” she says. “The well feels like a friend I can casually drop in on without ritual formalities. I walk in, give a token contribution, light a