The curious case of the vanishing Parsis
Updated On Sep 22, 2015 05:32 PM IST
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Updated on Sep 22, 2015 05:32 PM IST
With just 69,000 Parsis left in the country according to the 2001 Census, the last to classify minorities according to religion, Parsi panchayats are encouraging the young to marry within the community and have more children. We bring you beautiful pictures from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana.
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Updated on Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 PM IST
Surat, India - March 22, 2015: Delicia Billimoria plays with her neighbour at her residence in Surat, India, on Sunday, March 22, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)
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Updated on Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 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 Sep 22, 2015 05:32 PM IST