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Parsis

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The Parsis are a unique ethnic group living in the Indian subcontinent.

Persians (Parsees) in Bombay 1873
Persians (Parsees) in Bombay 1873

They are followers of Zoroastrianism, which is an ancient faith. The name Parsi comes from the Persian language. It literally means "Persian."

IslamicConquestsIroon
IslamicConquestsIroon

This group is part of a larger Zoroastrian community. They are different from the Iranis, who arrived in India later. Today, the Parsis are known for being a well-defined community. They have stayed distinct through their own special customs and traditions.

Many people wonder how the Parsis first arrived in India.

Parsi Fire Temple of Ahmedabad - Gujarat, India (4586854549)
Parsi Fire Temple of Ahmedabad - Gujarat, India (4586854549)

A famous legend explains their welcome. It is called the Sugar in the Milk story. A Parsi priest supposedly added sugar to a vessel of milk. This showed King Jadi Rana that they would enrich the culture. They would blend in without causing any disruption to the land. This helped them find sanctuary in places like Gujarat and Maharashtra. They settled there between the 7th and 10th centuries.

This migration happened because of big changes in Persia.

IslamicConquestsIroon
IslamicConquestsIroon

During the 7th century, the Arab-Islamic conquest of Iran began. This led to the Islamisation of the region. Many Zoroastrians faced persecution during this time. Some people stayed and fought for many years. However, most Zoroastrians eventually converted or chose to flee. The Parsis were among those who left to find religious freedom. They traveled from the Sassanian empire to find a new home.

There are many interesting facts about Parsi life and history.

Parsi-navjote-sitting
Parsi-navjote-sitting

For example, they have a special ceremony called a Navjote. This is a rite of admission into their faith. The community has also been very successful in many fields. They have been influential in trade, industry, and philanthropy. Famous people from this group include the singer Freddie Mercury.

Freddie Mercury performing in New Haven, CT, November 1977
Freddie Mercury performing in New Haven, CT, November 1977

Other notable names are Jamsetji Tata and Ardeshir Godrej. These people have made a big impact on the world.

Today, the Parsi community is quite small but very important.

The geographical population distribution of modern and ancient Parsi
The geographical population distribution of modern and ancient Parsi

According to the 2011 census, there were 57,264 Parsis in India. Most of them live in Mumbai. You can also find them in cities like Pune and Bangalore. Some live in Karachi, Chennai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad. They are mostly Indian in their national identity. However, they keep their own unique religious and cultural practices. This makes them a special part of the history of India.

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🖼️ Images & Media (16)
File:Indian - Leaf from Bound Collection of 20 Miniatures Depicting Village Life - Walters 35176H.jpg
Indian - Leaf from Bound Collection of 20...
File:Parsi wedding portrait with Dastur MN Dhalla.jpg
Parsi wedding portrait with Dastur MN Dhalla.jpg
File:Parsi-navjote-sitting.jpg
Parsi-navjote-sitting.jpg
File:The geographical population distribution of modern and ancient Parsi.png
The geographical population distribution...
File:Number of Zoroastrians in Pakistan by district.jpg
Number of Zoroastrians in Pakistan by district.jpg
File:IslamicConquestsIroon.png
IslamicConquestsIroon.png
File:Persians (Parsees) in Bombay 1873.jpg
Persians (Parsees) in Bombay 1873.jpg
File:Parsee Wedding 1905.jpg
Parsee Wedding 1905.jpg
File:Parsee Tower of Silence, Bombay.jpg
Parsee Tower of Silence, Bombay.jpg
File:Parsi Fire Temple Delhi.jpg
Parsi Fire Temple Delhi.jpg
File:Parsi Fire Temple of Ahmedabad - Gujarat, India (4586854549).jpg
Parsi Fire Temple of Ahmedabad - Gujarat,...
File:Parsi-jashan-ceremony-1.jpg
Parsi-jashan-ceremony-1.jpg

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