Udvada
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Udvada | |
---|---|
town | |
UTC+5:30 (IST) | |
Telephone code | 91260 |
Vehicle registration | GJ 15 |
Sex ratio | 995/1000 ♀/♂ |
Udvada is a town situated in
Etymology
The name Udvada means the 'grazing ground of camels', which it used to be before it became a fishing town.
Geography
Udvada is situated on the mouth of Kolak River. It also has a hill on the outskirts of the town. It is neighbours with Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar haveli which is a Union Territory of India.
Transport
The town is served by
Zoroastrianism
The Atash Behram
The
The importance of Udvada in
History
Following the
According to the same legend, on their journey, the Zoroastrians had carried ash from a sacred fire, which a priest is said to have then used for the bed of the Sanjan fire when it was consecrated. A related legend recounts that this fire was consecrated as Atash Bahram fires traditionally are, that is, out of 16 fires, including that of a funeral pyre, a shepherd's hearth, a goldsmith's hearth, a potter's kiln and from a fire caused by lightning.[1]
Some centuries after their arrival (probably in the late 14th century), Sanjan was attacked by troops of the Delhi Sultanate (possibly those of Muhammad bin Tughluq[2]) and the Parsis fled again, into caves in the nearby Barhot hills, 14 km south of Sanjan. The sacred fire went with them. Several years later it was installed in Navsari. In the 18th century, a decision was made to return the flame to Sanjan, but along the way, the priests preferred to remain in Udvada, where the fire temple was consecrated in 1742. [3]
The first recorded use of the name in reference to the fire there appears in a 1905 work by Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, who made several allusions to the "Iranshah Fire" within the space of two pages. In 1920, when Shahpurshah Hodivala published his English language translation of the Qissa-i Sanjan, he assumed that this was the original name of the fire. It had been so-called because it was consecrated to be the earthly representative of Yazdegerd III, the last Zoroastrian king of Iran, this explanation is accepted by almost all devout Parsis, and even the few sceptics among them tend to refer to the fire as the Iranshah.
In 1998, Sarosh Bana, executive editor with Business India, approached the then Gujarat government to declare Udvada village a ‘Heritage Precinct’. Bana organised a pictorial and architectural assessment of the village and set up a pilgrimage boarding facility and a museum showcasing the history of the Parsis and Udvada. The museum is now OPEN FOR PUBLIC.[1]
Today
Ceremonial anniversary celebrations are held at the Atash Behram on the day of its founding. The ceremonies in Udvada are held on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Shahenshahi (imperial) version of the
According to tradition and later as a result of the legal verdict, nine priestly families of Sanjan and their heirs are the sole lawful guardians of the fire and its temple. They alone have the right to enjoy their income. The position of high priest passes in turn from the head of one family to the head of another.[5]
Major renovations are being made in Udvada Atash Behram by a renowned construction company Shapoorji Pallonji since December 2018. It was due for a major internal renovation. It was a major concern for the Parsi community for it holds great value in creating the community of Parsis in India.
Ilm-e Kshnoom
Udvada is also the religious centre of the
Zoroastrian Heritage Museum
Udvada also hosts a Zoroastrian Heritage Museum, sponsored by the Government of Gujarat. This museum contains summaries of the teachings and beliefs of lord Ahura Mazda, it has a large write-up, that tells you about the history of the Parsi's and Ahura Mazda. It also has explanations and write-ups on the holy ceremony of the Parsis called Navjot. It also showcases brief biographies of some of the prominent personalities from the Parsi community and their contributions to India.
Preservation
The town, and its ambience, is under threat from the advancing sea (and consequent salinity) and commercialization. The Mumbai-based Save Udvada Committee, supported by the Indian and Gujarat state governments, is engaged in combating sea-driven erosion.[6] There have also been attempts to get Udvada declared a World Heritage Site, to protect the ancient residences and the fire temple. The typical Parsi homes here with their high ceilings, sloped roofs with ornamental skirting, and double otlas (porches) are over a century old, and considered worth preserving.
See also
- Udwadia, a toponymic surname from the town:
- Farokh Udwadia, Indian physician
- Firdaus E. Udwadia: Indian mechanical engineer, known for the Udwadia–Kalaba formulation
- Tehemton Erach Udwadia, Indian surgeon and gastroenterologist
- Zarir Udwadia, Indian pulmonologist and researcher
References
- ^ "Village by the sea". www.harmonyindia.org. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
- ^ Desai, Jenny. "Udvada". Retrieved 6 September 2006.
- ^ Balaram, Gunvanti (13 April 2003). "Sanjan shards help piece together Parsi history". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2006.
- ^ ^ ^ Boyce, Mary & Kotwal, Firoze. "Irānshāh". Encyclopedia Iranica. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ Homji, V. M. M. (1995). "Curbing coastal erosion - Example of Udvada (South Gujarat)" (PDF). National Academy Science Letters. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 6 September 2006.