A commemorative coin, book, prayers and celebrations are planned to mark the tricentennial of the Bhikha Behram Well at Churchgate on Friday, March 21.
The celebrations will start with a jashan, a religious ceremony, at the 10.00 am that will be attended by members of the Parsi-Zoroastrian community. Later in the evening, the community will meet at Allbless Baug at Charni Road to felicitate the trustees, caretakers, and large gathering with invitees and benefactors, said trustee Homiar Vakil.
On March 22, which is Ava Roj or the day dedicated to the guardian angel for water, there will be prayers at the well and Radio Club, Colaba.
Rahul Narwekar, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, has written to the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai, to name of the place as ‘Bhikha Behram Chowk’ as an acknowledgement of the historical landmark.
“Bhikha Behram Well is a well known historical well in Cross Maidan area in A Ward of my constituency, Colaba. This well is a sacred place for Parsi-Zoroastrians and people gather here for the daily prathna. The said historic well is completing 300 years and on this occasion the members of the Parsi community have requested me through the attached statement to name the said place as Bhikha Behram Chowk.”
The well was built by the merchant Bhikaji Behram Pandey in the year 1725 as a source of drinking water for traveling by bullock carts and horse carts.
