Sun-bleached wall paint, villas that are virtually falling apart and opulent front porches with a swing for some breeze – Udvada has an old world charm about it. In the village located about 200 km north of Mumbai in the State of Gujarat, only a few members of the Parsi Zoroastrian community are left.
Nevertheless, the place will be the centre of attention for the community from December 25 to 27 when the first Iranshah Udvada Utsav will be held. The three-day-festival on Parsi culture and religion is already booked out. “We have about 2,200 registered visitors, most of whom will come from Mumbai and different parts of Gujarat,” says Havovi Dastoor, member of the core team organising the festival.
The Parsi Zoroastrian community in India numbers only 69,600 according to 2001 Census figures. Udvada is a religious centre for the community since it is home to an important place of worship, the Iranshah Atash Behram which contains one of the oldest sacred fires.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited, but confirmation is yet to come.
