The Parsis

The Parsis are a religious community in Western India. The Origins of this community can be traced to ancient Iran (Persia). The Parsis migrated to India in the 8th Century A.D. after Iran fell to the Arabs. They reached the Gujarat in Eastern India, where they were given refuge by the local king, Jadi Rana. Five years later they built their first fire temple,Atash Behram with the sacred fire which they had managed to bring from Iran.

Over the centuries, the Parsis adopted the culture of their new homeland. Gujarati became their language and their womenfolk made the saree, the Indian dress their own.

The Parsis gradually migrated and spread over the whole of Gujarat. In the 15th century, the Sultan of Gujarat defeated the Hindu king and the Parsis who supported him. The Parsis fled with the holy fire to a place called Nausari. With the British rule, Mumbai(Bombay) became a well developed metropolis. Besides, the British wanted Mumbai(Bombay) to be populated with skilled artisans. Hence, they encouraged Parsi migration. Today about 70% of the Parsis live in Mumbai. The Parsis have contributed a lot towards the development of India. Many of the great business houses are run by the parsis. The Parsi religion( Zoroastrianism) is monotheistic. They believe in a god,Ahura Mazda who created the world and all in it. Angra Mainyu, an evil spirit is his enemy. The Parsis believe that the forces of Angra Mainyu will be ultimately defeated. The religious book of the Zoroastrians is called the Zend Avesta.

The Parsis worship in fire temples. Fire is kept burning constantly in the altar. They pray to the fire five times a day.

One of the most distinguishing features that set the Parsis from other communities is the manner of disposal of the dead. The Parsis do bury or cremate their dead as they consider a dead pollutant. They leave it on specially constructed towers called dokhmas to be fed to the vultures. The dokhma is also called the Tower of Silence.

Today, however, the gentle community is threatened by underpopulation. The Parsis are working against this dangerous trend. The Parsis have passed through the fires of persecution and fled from their native land. In this, they have proved that human culture and civilization can flourish in regions distant from the land that gave birth to it.

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