Despite rising costs of sandalwood and the shortage of priests, the performance of the
maachi ceremony still continues
"The ritual of offering maachi to the holy fire is meant for welcoming the divine beings in all five watches of the day,” explained High Priest Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal when Parsiana inquired of him and other priests the significance of the maachi ceremony. "They shower their blessings on those members of the Parsi community who offer the Atash Niyaayesh (prayer venerating the fire) litany to the holy fire and seek their blessings… The holy fires are installed in various places for warding off the evil spirits and their destructive influences, and strengthening the good divine powers as a shield......