The Bhika Behram Well, a landmark heritage site for the Zoroastrian community near Churchgate station in south Mumbai, completed 300 years on Friday

This well is a sacred space for Mumbai`s Parsis. Arguably the oldest sweet water well in the city, it was built in 1725 by Bhikaji Behram Pandey, a businessman who was moved by the plight of thirsty travellers and locals

He undertook the task of digging a well that would provide a perennial source of water

While the canopied premises of the well can be accessed only by Parsis, the well water, available via taps located on the rear side, can be used by all communities

Its original function, to provide water to people, continues, 300 years later

The tercentenary celebrations began on Friday with a jashan, a religious ceremony attended by members of the Parsi-Zoroastrian community

On Saturday, which is Ava Roj or the day dedicated to the guardian angel for water, there will be prayers at the well

The tercentenary function on Friday on the Iranian New Year or Jamshedi Navroz, also featured the launch of a commemorative volume titled `Waternamah: 300 years of Mumbai`s Bhikha Behram Well`, edited by Bachi Karkaria