One of the two high priests of the Iranshah Atash Behram in Udvada, Gujarat, has said that neither the Iranshah Atash Behram—the country’s oldest fire temple where a millennium-old sacred fire burns —nor its managing trusts have ever received any financial support from the Iranshah Udvada Utsav (IUU), a major Zoroastrian cultural festival held every two years, despite its implied association with the sacred site.

The first edition of the festival was held in 2015, to showcase the cultural history of the Parsi community. The 2024 edition is scheduled to be held from December 27 to December 29. “Given that Iranshah’s name is tagged to the Utsav, and the fact that it takes place in Udvada, there has been a general belief among the Parsees across the world that the financial benefits of the Utsav accrue to Shreeji Pak Iranshah Atash Behram and the Udvada Nine Family Shahenshahi Athornan Anjuman. This belief is incorrect,” said Dastur Tehmton Mirza, 45, who was appointed as the Iranshah Atash Behram’s second high priest in February.