Parsis pray for a problem-free temple

Seeking silence

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bangalore Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman (BPZA) Secretary Shereyar D Vakil was despondent: “This is the only Fire Temple that we have in the entire city…how do we congregate and worship with so many problems around?”

For one, there is intense congestion and noise in front of the main entrance, that is growing by the day. The area has become a battleground for buses trying to pick up passengers as well as a parking area for autorickshaws.

Besides the main problem of traffic at the front gate, there are other complaints. The boundary walls are regularly plastered with film posters and pamphlets.

A phone booth-cum-cigarette and gutka shop is located adjacent to the temple’s boundary wall. The smoke and cigarette buds regularly make their way into the premises of the temple. There is also a place right in the western corner of the wall that is used as a place to relieve oneself.

The BPZA has sought intervention from almost all the top heads and institutions in the State regarding the issue, but all in vain.

They have been complaining to Lokayukta Santosh Hegde since 2006. They have brought their problems to the attention of former Justice and MP Rama Jois. They met members of the National Minorities Commission to air their problems, when they visited Bangalore in August 2009.

But, none has been able to help. There is a bus stop located right in front of the temple. Repeated appeals were made to shift it to Minsk Square further down Queen’s Road, a measure which the BPZA felt would ‘solve their problems to a great extent’.  

The Karnataka State Minorities Commission had also directed the BBMP to take the necessary action.

The BPZA members have also met Governor H R Bhardwaj, former Commissioner of Police Shankar Bidari and Additional Commissioner (Traffic and Safety) Praveen Sood.