What are the beliefs of Parsi?

Parsis follow the religion of Zoroaster, a prophet of the seventh century B . C . from the region between the Hindu Kush and Seistan. Their belief system includes ideas about a creator god, good and evil forces, individual choice, Heaven and Hell, the Last Judgment, and eternal life.

What is Parsi culture?

The Parsis, whose name means “Persians,” are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who emigrated to India to avoid religious persecution by Muslims. They live chiefly in Mumbai and in a few towns and villages mostly to the north of Mumbai, but also at Karachi (Pakistan) and Bengaluru (Karnataka, India).

What happens in Tower of Silence?

Tower of Silence is a cremation or burial ground for Parsis. According to the customs, when a Parsi dies, the body is brought to the tower of silence and laid under the open sky to be fed upon by scavenger birds; mostly vultures.

How do Parsis get married?

A Parsi wedding takes place on a stage in an agiary (fire temple). Before the groom steps on the stage, the bride’s mother performs a ritual called Achumichu. In this ritual, the bride’s mother holds a tray with a raw egg, supari, rice, coconut, dates and water and begins the ceremony with her son-in-law to be.

Is santhara legal in India?

It is one thing to say that the Santhara or Sallekhana is not suicide as it is a voluntary act of giving up of one’s body for salvation and is not violent in any manner, but it is another thing to say that it is permissible religious practice protected by Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India.

How do Jains do cremation?

The Cremation… The cremation is performed in a place where living things will not be harmed. “Ghee, camphor and sandalwood powder are sprinkled all over the body and the eldest son of the deceased… goes round the pyre three times sprinkling water all over the body.” During the cremation the Shanti path is chanted.

How do the powers of Parsis cremate the dead?

Parsis use their Towers of Silence to cremate the dead. Because the religion believes in not polluting the elements that make our life i.e. Fire, Earth, Wind, Water and Heart.

What happens after death in the Parsi religion?

Sometimes the juice of a few grains of pomegranate, which is considered essential in some of the Parsi ceremonies, is dropped into the mouth of the dying person. [5] A short time after death, the body of the deceased is washed whole throughout with water, and a white clean suit of cotton clothes is put over him.

Do Parsis have funeral rituals in India?

The Parsi community in India, however, faces a unique obstacle. Parsis, who came to India from Persia (Iran) a thousand years ago with their Zoroastrian faith, have gone to great lengths to maintain their unique funeral rituals. But they’ve had to make a few adjustments to keep up with the times and to not upset the neighbors.

How common are cremations in Mumbai’s Parsi community?

Jehangir Patel, editor of community magazine “Parsiana”, told AFP that cremations now accounted for around 15 percent of funerals in Mumbai’s community of an estimated 45,000 Parsis — up from 6 percent before the prayer hall opened.