The curious case of the vanishing Parsis

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 20, 2015: Parsi children at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Friday, March 20, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Parsi children at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Parsi boys and panchayat members at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Parsi priests prepare for a prayer session on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: A Parsi girl with her father outside a fire temple on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: A Parsi special feast being laid out on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Surat's distinguished Yezdi Karanjia family poses next to a table laid out with; the Parsi special feast on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: The three generations of Dotivala Bakery family pose at their bakery in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Navsari, India - March 21, 2015: A Parsi priest outside a fire temple in Navsari, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Navsari, India - March 21, 2015: A priest and members of the family gather around for a wedding ceremony in Navsari, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Surat, India - March 22, 2015: Young Parsis girls play at their residence in Surat, India, on Sunday, March 22, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

An extended Parsi family poses on the occasion of Navroz. The Parsis of Dahanu are the latest batch of Iranian immigrants to have settled in India. Photo: Labony Kaushal

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Dr Beheramshah Mazda and Farhan Mazda fire blank shots at equinox on every Navroz day as a ceremonial ritual. Unlike Parsis in other parts of the country, chikoo farmers of the Dahanu region got guns to protect their fields from predatory birds. Photo: Labony Kaushal

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Members of the Parsi community greet each other on the occasion of the Navroz festival at Hyderabad: HT Photo

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Updated on Jun 29, 2015 03:35 PM IST

Old world grace: Every year, Gulbanoo Chenoy, president of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, hosts a feast on the occasion of Navroz. HT Photo

The curious case of the vanishing Parsis

Surat, India - March 20, 2015: Parsi children at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Friday, March 20, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Parsi children at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Parsi boys and panchayat members at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Parsi priests prepare for a prayer session on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, at a welfare home in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: A Parsi girl with her father outside a fire temple on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: A Parsi special feast being laid out on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: Surat's distinguished Yezdi Karanjia family poses next to a table laid out with; the Parsi special feast on Navroz, the Parsi New Year, in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 21, 2015: The three generations of Dotivala Bakery family pose at their bakery in Surat, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Navsari, India - March 21, 2015: A Parsi priest outside a fire temple in Navsari, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Navsari, India - March 21, 2015: A priest and members of the family gather around for a wedding ceremony in Navsari, India, on Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Surat, India - March 22, 2015: Young Parsis girls play at their residence in Surat, India, on Sunday, March 22, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

An extended Parsi family poses on the occasion of Navroz. The Parsis of Dahanu are the latest batch of Iranian immigrants to have settled in India. Photo: Labony Kaushal

Dr Beheramshah Mazda and Farhan Mazda fire blank shots at equinox on every Navroz day as a ceremonial ritual. Unlike Parsis in other parts of the country, chikoo farmers of the Dahanu region got guns to protect their fields from predatory birds. Photo: Labony Kaushal

Members of the Parsi community greet each other on the occasion of the Navroz festival at Hyderabad: HT Photo

Old world grace: Every year, Gulbanoo Chenoy, president of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, hosts a feast on the occasion of Navroz. HT Photo

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