Parsi New Year in Hyderabad: Oldest fire temple 'Viccajee Meherji' gears up for thanksgiving prayers

Hyderabad: The tiny, well-knit Parsi Zoroastrian community of around a thousand members will celebrate Navroz, or Parsi New Year on August 15. There will be thanksgiving prayers and refreshments served in all the fire temples in the morning. There are two fire temples in Secunderabad and one in Hyderabad. The oldest fire temple, the Viccajee Meherji and Seth Pestonji Meherji Dar-e-Meher is located at 128 MG Road in Secunderabad.

The foundation for the Bai Maneckji Nusserwanji Chenoy Dar-e-Meher, at Tilak Road, Hyderabad was laid in 1904.

The Khan Bahadur Edulji Sohrabji Chenai Anjuman Dar-e-Meher at 125 MG road Secunderabad was consecrated on August 8, 1920, during the administration of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan under the reign of the British monarch King George V.

The Oldest Fire Temple

Visitors to Chermas on MG Road in Secunderabad will notice a beautiful old Heritage Building nearby, which is always meticulously maintained. It is the Seth Viccaji Meherji and Seth Pestonji Meherji Dar-e-Meher, also known as the Old Parsi Fire Temple in Secunderabad. It was consecrated on 12th September 1847.

The Agiary or Fire Temple compound has residential quarters and commercial shops too. Captain Kayarmin Pestonji takes a very keen interest in the day-to-day working of this Fire Temple and he recounts the history behind this stunning heritage building in the heart of Secunderabad. Two brothers, Pestonji Meherji (1783-1854) and Viccaji Meherji (1798-1853) built this gorgeous Fire Temple. They were originally bankers and cotton traders from Bombay who were doing business in Latur and Sholapur.

Around 190 years ago, the then-Nizam invited them to do more trade in Hyderabad. The Hyderabad-Bombay cotton trade at that time used 500 bullock carts a year. The number soon rose to 5 lakh bullock carts annually. The trade peaked 160 years ago as tonnes of cotton were being exported to Manchester, England. The two brothers built hundreds of kilometers of roads, bridges, and travelers’ bungalows where the weary could rest. In all the bungalows were plaques with the inscribed words, “For the Tired Traveller with God’s Blessing.” There was no mention of the brothers’ names on these plaques as they were real philanthropists.

The Nizam had borrowed a princely sum of Rs 40 lakh from the two brothers to maintain the troops provided to him by the British Army to protect him from Tipu Sultan and the French soldiers. At that time, instead of paying half a percent interest annually, Nizam instead chose to grant the brothers big ‘Jagir’ properties, and the revenue earned by the brothers from this was considered instead of interest.

Coins minted

With great pride, Captain Pestonji mentions that the Meherji brothers were the only Parsi family in the world to have minted their currency in the Nizam’s mint at Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

The coin was called the Pestonshai Sicca and Seth Pestonji Meherji was allowed to insert his initials on the coin. It was one of the most beautiful coins struck, both in design and purity of metal during the mid-19th Century. More than one crore such as silver and copper coins were struck from 1832 to 1842. Today only a few original coins remain with the descendents of the family and four of these coins are on display in the British Museum in London.

Parsi contribution to our city’s History

The community in the twin cities, though minuscule, has played a prominent role in the city’s history. One of the most prominent families is the Chenoys. When the Hyderabad Contingent was transferred from the old cantonment of Jalna to Bolarum, Sohrabji Pestonjee Chenoy, son of Pestonjee Maneckjee Chenoy, along with 14 other Parsi gents came with them in 1803 and later became notable army shroffs or bankers of the said contingent. The history of the Chenoy family has been closely entwined with that of Hyderabad State for over 150 years. Several generations of the Chenoy family occupied key positions in the courts of the Nizams and later continued to excel in medicine, finance, private service, and social service.

Independence Day Celebrations

Since Navroz this year coincides with Independence Day, in the morning, Air Marshal Maneck Madon (Retired), a prominent member of the Parsi committee will hoist the flag at the Zoroastrian Club in Secunderabad. Uzairin Daver will render the Vande Mataram.

Navroz Dinner

Snacks, games of house, and dinner are on the cards for the Parsi community at Zoroastrian Club, Secunderabad from 6 pm onwards.