THE SACRED FIRE COMMUNITY: THE PARSIS OF HYDERABAD

THE SACRED FIRE COMMUNITY: THE PARSIS OF HYDERABAD

On August 21, the Parsis living in Hyderabad and Secunderabad will gather at the sacred fire temple to celebrate Navroz, the Parsis New Year. For the believers of sacred fire, Pateti, the last day of the year is a day to seek forgiveness for past sins and Navroz the following day signals a fresh start.

Though the Parsi community is extremely small, total of 438 families and 1,169 living in the twin-cities, these are very distinguished and very well educated community. They are talented especially in arts and business and are generally noted for their gaiety celebrations, lavish hospitality and philanthropic contributions. Culturally speaking, Hyderabadi Parsis are a combination of Hyderabadi culture with strong British influences making them distinctly different from their counterparts in other cities.

The Parsis came to India from the Persian province about 1200 years ago to safeguard their religion and the teachings of Zarathustra. In Hyderabad, the Asaf jahi Dynasty attracted some of the best Parsi talent and many of them spent their lives in the service of the Nizam occupying positions of trust and responsibility.

The Parsi-Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad is the main temple and community center. This also acts as a governing body of various properties, Dharmashala and the three fire temples (one in Hyderabad and two in Secunderabad). To address the aging and numerically declining population Anjuman conducts several community support programs including education, community development and fertility programs. In the last five years only 30 marriages and less than 50 births were celebrated, as noted by the Anjuman.

The Zoroastrian club is the venue for most community activities. Hyderabad also boasts of Parsi colonies like bapu Bagh and Shapurbagh.

The two 'Towers of Silence', Parsi funeral services centers where scavenging birds dispose of their dead, are located at Bhoiguda and Parsigutta. According to Times news paper article the Zoroastrian scripture and tradition say that a corpse is a host for decay. Consequently, scripture enjoins the safe disposal of the dead in a manner such that a corpse does not pollute the air, water and earth, said Ervad H Bharucha, head priest of Chenoy Fire Temple. However, Parsi community in Hyderabad has been forced to resort to solar concentrators to carry out the last rites.

 The community, a total of approximately 70,000 across India consists largely of an inbred population and increasingly declining, as a result of the self-imposed discouragement of intercommunity marriages, acceptance of those who inter-marry and their spouses and offspring. Some argue that, unless this is addressed the community will continue to dwindle, while others argue that intermarriage will erode the distinctiveness of the community.

 

For Ms.Dilshad Patel (left), an actress in small budget films and a proud supporter of the Hyderabadi community “Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are”.
Ms. Dilshad Patel, Actress

                                                                   Written by

                                                          Quddus Mohammed