"Whatever we say about them or give to them is very nominal compared to the service they have rendered to the Iranshah… They are in a very different league from the other mobeds across the globe,” stated Udvada High Priest Dastur Khurshed Dastoor speaking at a "unique and special event,” organized by the trustees and committee members of The Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (ZCF) on May 5, 2023 at the Dastur Kayoji Mirza Memorial Hall. ZCF, which organizes events for children, notably the 20-year-old ZoChild Day program, felicitated mobeds of the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada. Mobeds who received a plaque, shawl and flowers on the occasion were Ervads Kaikobad Moghul, Burjor Mirza, Jehangir Bharda, Framroze Bharda, Farrokh Bharda, the last two in absentia. Mobeds’ wives Freny Moghul, Shirin Mirza and Kumi Bharda were individually honored and thanked by the Foundation. ZCF chairman Vispi Kapadia who welcomed those gathered said, "From deep down in our hearts ZCF thanks them for their selfless service… ZoChild has had events with thousands of children but we are very proud and happy to host this very special event.” ZCF committee member Veera Mundroina sent a belated report on the event to Parsiana.
Felicitated Udvada mobeds and their wives with Vispi Kapadia and
Dastur Khurshed Dastoor (5th and 6th from l) and other ZoChild Foundation members
Dastoor stated that he and his clan "are very proud we got an opportunity to work, learn and get encouragement from such very senior mobeds.” Lauding their "sacrifices” of health, family life and careers, the High Priest said he learnt many things from Ervads Kaikobad and the late Pallonji Dastur and reminisced that in their youth these priests were all good sportsmen. "After doing ijashne, vendidad, Kaikobadji would come home at 6 a.m. have breakfast and play cricket the whole day… He was captain of the Udvada cricket team… Every evening he would go to the Gymkhana to play table tennis.” The High Priest also lauded the supporting role of the priests’ wives.
Keynote speaker senior lawyer Phiroze Andhyarujina stated, "By honoring the senior priests we are only honoring ourselves and Udvada gaam itself.” He revealed that Kaikobad had told him that being a mobed is responding to a higher calling.
The event was compered by ZoChild committee member Diana Marfatia. The vote of thanks by Behram Kapadia included mention of Kayomarz Mirza, Udvada Anjuman secretary. Singing of the Parsi and national anthems and a lagan nu bhonu catered by Khushnum and Mehernosh Patel brought the curtain down on this event.