Controversy surrounds the Iranshah Udvada Festival after song-and-dance performances near the holy Iranshah shrine | File Photo
Mumbai: The three-day Iranshah Udvada Festival in Gujarat, which concluded on December 28, is embroiled in a controversy after allegations that the event, which featured dancing and Bollywood songs, defiled the sanctity of the holiest Zoroastrian shrine.
The ticketed event, the second such festival, was organised by the Foundation for Development of Udvada and supported by the Gujarat tourism department. The first festival was held in 2016, drawing nearly 4000 visitors worldwide.
File Photo
The festival aimed to raise funds for the development of Udvada village which is home to the Iranshah, the holiest fire worshipped by Parsi-Zoroastrians. The fire was brought to India from Persia a millennium ago when Zoroastrians fled Islamic persecution.
The fire was preserved in different locations before it was enshrined at the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada, a small seaside village in Valsad district close to the Maharashtra border.
In Mumbai, where the majority of India’s Parsis live, the high priest of the shrine, Khursheed Dastur, has been criticised for allowing the festival in the village. Former chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, Dinshaw Mehta, said, “How can our holy Udvada village be defiled by the dirty song and dance of scantily clad females under the guise of Utsav with no benefit to our Atash Behram? Athornan Mandal (a religious body) should disrobe Khurshed Dastur for this insult to our Atash Behram,” said Mehta.
Dastoor, who is in the United States, said he did not want to comment on the allegations. “I do not have anything to say about the controversy. I do not want to give any statement,” said Dastoor, who belongs to a small group of priestly families that traditionally send high priests to the shrine.
Jehangir Patel, editor of the community magazine, Parsiana, said that people were offended that sacred grounds were used for entertainment. “The festival came into being to bring people from India and abroad to the town,” said Patel.
“The rationale of some who oppose the Utsav and similar events is that it is preferable to have an empty fire temple than to have people drawn to the vicinity for social entertainment, garba, or music-cum dance on sacred grounds.”
Mehta said that he was not against the festival. “But do not hold it in Udvada. It is a holy shrine” said Mehta who said he will not allow the festival to be held again. “I have made up my mind: I will not allow the festival.”
