In tune with the decision of the North American Mobed Council (NAMC) to overcome the shortage of mobeds by training committed members of the Zarathushti laity as mobedyars, Maneck Bhujwala, former president of the Zoroastrian Association of California, was formally initiated as an ordained mobedyar by Southern California’s dedicated priest, Mobed Zarir Bhandara. The initiation followed the gahambar prayers at a meeting of the Zoroastrian Association of California on June 6, 2004, notes an intimation from Bhandara.
Bhujwala (right) receiving certificate from Bhandara
Bombay born Bhujwala has been in the US since 1965 when he went to pursue graduate studies in engineering. A professional software manager Bhujwala attended NAMC training in Washington DC in 1998 and performed ritual ceremonies for the community in Northern California. As a mobedyar he is entitled to perform jashans as well as muktad and funeral prayers, states the write-up. Well known for his articles in Indian and American newspapers on Parsis and Zoroastrianism, Bhujwala has appeared on radio and TV talk shows, given lectures at Zoroastrian, Indian and interfaith conferences, conducted religion classes and has been on the Stanford University Associated Religions board. He now lives in Southern California with his wife Mahrukh and daughter Shehnaz....