200 KM Divine Walk: A Spiritual Journey from Tardeo to Udwada by Viraf Randeria & Kaiwan Randeria

On December 7th, 2024, Viraf Randeria, a 51-year-old from South Mumbai, embarked on an extraordinary spiritual quest with his nephew, 25-year-old Kaiwan Randeria. The duo undertook a 200 km journey on foot, walking from Tardeo in South Mumbai to the Pak Iranshah Atashbehram, the holiest fire temple in Udwada, Gujarat. This sacred journey was more than just a physical challenge; it was a testament to their faith, determination, and endurance.

The Journey: Day-by-Day Breakdown

Day 1: Fresh Beginnings (7th December 2024)

The duo began their journey bright and early at 5:00 AM, filled with enthusiasm and motivation. By 8:45 AM, they had already covered 20 km, maintaining a steady pace. After a brief rest, they pushed ahead to complete a total of 36 km by noon, stopping for lunch.Despite the exhausting distance, they persevered and concluded their day after walking an impressive 46 km, eventually reaching a resort near Vasai-Virar Road.

Day 2: Overcoming Hurdles

Starting at 4:30 AM, Day 2 presented unexpected challenges. Kaiwan suffered from knee pain and blisters, while Viraf dealt with an upset stomach. The limited facilities along the highway compounded their difficulties. However, they managed to cover 40 km and rested in Palghar, where the kind staff at Hotel Fern Shelter provided first aid and much-needed care.

Day 3: Steady Progress Amidst Challenges

On 9th December, the duo battled cold weather and worsening blisters but remained undeterred. Motivating each other and setting small goals, they powered through 39 km, reaching Charoti by noon.The night concluded with a comforting meal at Hotel Atithi, helping them recharge for the next leg of their journey.

Day 4: Braving Tough Conditions

The fourth day was marked by freezing temperatures and rough road conditions along NH48. They reached the iconic Parsi Dairy Farm for lunch, enjoying a wholesome meal of daal-khichadi before tackling the rugged terrain. Despite walking on kaccha roads, they successfully reached Hotel Bhilad Gate by 3:00 PM, excited and ready for the final stretch.

Day 5: A Memorable Finish

The final day began early at 5:00 AM, with Viraf battling an upset stomach. Their determination kept them going. After covering 17 km, excitement built up as they neared their destination. At Janda Chowk, just 300 meters from the Iranshah Atashbehram, they held hands and walked the last stretch together. As they entered the sacred temple, the Geh (prayer time) had just changed, and the temple bell rang, marking a divine moment. Overcome with emotion, the duo offered prayers and expressed their gratitude to Ahura Mazda for guiding them through this incredible journey.

Reflections on the Journey

When asked about their motivation for undertaking this arduous yet reflective quest, Kaiwan shared,"I hope this story inspires others in our community to reconnect with their spirituality and traditions."He also expressed deep gratitude towards family and friends for their unwavering support throughout this journey.

The experience, Kaiwan said, was a test of endurance, faith, and determination. It was not just a walk but a spiritual awakening and a celebration of their faith, which they will cherish for a lifetime.

Details Explained

1. The Iranshah Atashbehram:

The Iranshah Atashbehram in Udwada, Gujarat, is one of the holiest fire temples for Zoroastrians. It houses the sacred Atash Behram fire, which has been burning continuously for centuries. Pilgrimage to this temple is considered an act of devotion and renewal of faith.

2. The Distance and Effort:

Walking 200 km over five days is no small feat. Covering approximately 40 km per day, the journey tested their physical stamina and mental resolve. The challenges they faced – blisters, cold weather, upset stomachs, and rough terrain – highlight their dedication and spiritual commitment.

3. Community Inspiration:

Through their journey, Viraf and Kaiwan hoped to inspire others in the Parsi community to reconnect with their roots, values, and traditions. By sharing their story, they aimed to encourage more people to undertake similar acts of devotion.

Conclusion: A Journey Beyond Physical Boundaries

The journey of Viraf and Kaiwan Randeria from Tardeo to Udwada is a powerful story of faith, resilience, and spirituality. Their determination to overcome challenges and their shared moments of joy and devotion at the Pak Iranshah Atashbehram serve as a beacon of inspiration for all.This walk wasn’t just about the physical act of walking—it was about reconnecting with their faith, embracing their community, and finding deeper meaning in their lives.

Tales of Ratan Tata - Nazia, Zoheb and Music Company

"Nazia and Zoheb you have a telephone call from some gentleman by the name of Mr. Ratan", my mother said while handing Nazia the phone. "My name is Ratan and I am starting a music company by the name of CBS India. I would like you and Zoheb to record an album for us if possible", he said.

"Can I come and meet with both of you?"

"Mama can Mr. Ratan come over to discuss a music project with us?!" Nazia said excitedly to mother.

"Not today maybe on Friday" said mother.

"Mr. Ratan can you come on Friday to our home in Wimbledon?", Nazia said in a business like manner.

On Friday a tall, impeccably dressed man in a suit arrived at our residence. He had a gentle smile on his face and was extremely soft spoken.

He seemed so sincere when he spoke. We had no idea who he was and he never bragged about himself. He just said "if you guys agree then let's make it happen. I will get someone to get in touch with you regarding the agreement. Make sure you get a lawyer and your parents to look at the agreement. If you don't agree with anything speak to me directly."

The rest is history and we produced the #YoungTarang album with possibly the first music videos #India and #SouthAsia had ever seen. This was around the time #MTV had just launched in #usa . MTV called us and said they had never seen anything like this and asked if we had done anything in #english.

#Doordarshan played the music videos in India and the album outsold even #DiscoDewane.

When we finally met Mr. #ratantata on the launch of the album at #TheTajHotel in #mumbai we were then told by the MD of #CBS India who this great man was. Until then we had no idea who Mr.Ratan was.

After the launch of the album he invited Nazia and I to his residence for dinner. We thought he probably lived in a palace. When we reached we were taken aback that the most powerful industrialist of India lived in such a humble abode. A small 2 bed flat sparsely decorated. We met his sister, one servant and an #alsatian whom he loved dearly. It was a simple dinner with a great man which to this day I will never forget.

I did meet Mr. Tata several times post this dinner. Once on #bondstreet in London while shopping. "How are you Zoheb? How is Nazia and your parents?"

"Hi Mr.Ratan they are fine thank you. What brings you to the UK?" He smiled and said "to look at some airplanes". Later I found out he came to purchase a few planes for #AirIndia which he also owned at that time.

Mr. Tata was living proof that one can be an iconic #businessman and still be a true #gentleman. Dearly missed.

Creating Sampoorna (Full Fledged) Mobeds For Our Future lncentivizing Athornan Youth Enrolled At Dadar Athornan Institute

It's a known fact that Mobedi, as a profession/ vocation is undergoing a crisis as never before, due to the dearth of young boys from Athornan families joining priesthood. The number of young boys from Athoman families opting to get admitted to a residential priesttraining institute, and thereafter to take up Mobedi on a fulltime basis, has diminished to a never before extent. Whilst various legitimate reasons are being cited, what is most important is that the future spiritual sustenance essential for

the community is at distinct threat.

It has become need of the hour to create a plan of action that would encourage and motivate Athornan families to enroll their young boys at Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI), the only residential training Institute for priests where they would be trained as Sampooma (Full Fledged) Mobeds, who could in future, provide services to the community, in addition to pursuing vocations of their choice.

DAI (Estb. 1919) by the Athoman Manda I, Mumbai, is the only functional residential priesttraining institute that provides Zoroastrian youth from Athoman families completely gratis training in religious rites and rituals, as well as arranges for their secular education at the well-known and reputed Dadar Parsi Youths Assembly High School. With a view to encourage, motivate and incentivize Athornan boys to enroll at DAI, Trustees of 'Zarin

Neville Sarkari Foundation' (ZNSF) situated at Denver, USA have, in collaboration with The WZO Trust Funds (WZOTF) and DAI, formulated a scheme to incentivize Athornan families to enrol young eligible boys into DAI as boarders for the duration of their religious and secular education studies, up to completion of secondary levels, i.e. Std X (SSC) or XII (HSC). As per the scheme:

An amount of Rs.60,000 per annum will be invested every year by WZOTF, for each Athoman boy enrolled at DAI, who only aftercomoietjng the full term of studies at DAI will be eligible to receive the amount plus compound interest accrued over the years.

To illustrate: A boarder who has enrolled in the Std I, upon leaving DAI after completing the full course

of studies up to Std X/ Std XII, will receive:

Rs. 600,000: (Principal amount@ Rs.60,000 per annum),

Rs. 230 947: (Notional interest compounded@7.05%per annum).

Rs. 830,942: Total

It is clarified that to be eligible for receiving the above incentive, the student enrolled at DAI should have completed their full tenure of both - secular education (Std. X or Std. XII) as well as completed training of Navar & Maratab at DAI. Boarders leaving DAI midway will not be eligible to receive any amount from this scheme.

lt is further clarified thatthe interest worked out is on an assumed basis of the approx. rate of interest currently prevalent and is only for illustration purposes. The actual interest will depend on the interest earned on the corpus created for this purpose. In addition to the actual interest earned, the sum of Rs. 60,000/ - per annum, during the course of his stay at DAI, will bean assured sum to be received by the young Sampoorna (Full Fledged) Mobed. It remains our fond hope that Athornan families will realize that efforts have been consistently on over the years to upgrade incomes of our Mobed Sahebs and will participate in extending support by

admitting their wards to DAI where they will be trained to become Sampoorna (Full Fledged) Mobeds who would serve the spiritual needs of our community.

It is our endeavour to ensure that we as a community have adequate number of Mobeds to serve our religious needs, for which we sincerely request all Athornan and Behdln families to extend a helping hand by kindly sharing details of the scheme with Athornan families they may know who have young boys eligible for admission to DAI.