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Hope for Parsis on brink of extinction
Published on Sun, Feb 12, 2006 at 09:41, Updated on Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 13:53 in India section
Tags: Faith In Progress, Religion , New Delhi
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New Delhi: Two hundred and twenty three families and just about 750 individuals - that's the number of Parsis left in Delhi.
The population of the Parsi community is fast reducing not only in the Capital, but across the country.
In an attempt to preserve the last vestiges of their community, the Delhi Parsi Anjuman is now accepting offspring of mixed marriages into the hitherto exclusive Parsi fold.
"The Delhi Parsi Anjuman got together and decided to accept a family even if one spouse was non-Zorastrian. Though they are not allowed to enter the fire temple, not buried in the Aramgah but, socially they are accepted," President, Delhi Parsi Anjuman, General Setna, says.
The Parsi community has generally been seen as a conservative one and does not accept people who marry non-Zorastrians.
But in Delhi, things are changing for the better as Parsis have learnt to accommodate "outsiders" into their fold to check the rapidly dwindling population of their community.
One such example is Anahita Patkar who has a Parsi for a mother, a Hind for a father and yet, she is a Zorastrian. At the regular weeked Farohar classes, Anahita and her friends learn more about Parsi culture.
"I learn about the religion and all the rituals related with it at these classes. It helps me understand the culture better," Patkar says.
However, it's not really easy breaking an age-old tradition as liberals are still not completely acceptable.
When Delhi-based Parsi Adil Nadgodwala decided to marry Tenzim - a Tibetian, his mother was petrified.
"Tenzim is a sweet girl but we feel that the community is getting smaller and smaller because people are marrying out," Adil's mother, Mrs Nadgodwala says.
The offspring of these mixed marriages are aware that one of their parents will never accepted completely by the fold. There is an obvious resentemnt at this reality but hopes have not died yet.
But for their parents, it's a huge relief that at least their children are being allowed to practise the Zorastrain faith.
A beginning has been made in Delhi - a beginning which can go a long way in saving the Parsi community from dying out.
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