Parsi Culture - Sky Burials and Zorastrianism

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Parsi Sky Burials

Getting chopped up and fed to the vultures is still a cultural must for many.

The clothes are taken off by hooks and the bodies left to be fed on by vultures on top of the Tower of Silence in Bombay. As Parsis believe that corpses contaminate anything they touch, the only acceptable way for strict Zoroastrians is to be fed to the birds.

Sometimes Indians in Bombay complain that bits of flesh drop from the sky from careless vultures but science insists that carrion birds cannot fly for one hour after feasting so unless they dropped in for a brief snack, the tradition of Parsi sky burials should continue unhindered.

Thing is, the vultures themselves are under threat of extinction.

What is Zoroastrianism?

Zoroaster, the original manic fire-starter.

Zorastrianism is essentially a monotheistic religion which believes in the age-old struggle between the foreces of order and chaos. Order will will, of course, and then there will be an idealic afterlife in which everyone will be given a healthy 40 year old body so light that it won't cast a shadow.

The teachings of Zoroastrianism are based on those of the prophet, Zoroaster and most Parsis have a strong connecting with the ancient religion which holds fire to be sacred. In fact, any manifestation of light is considered holy, even the little torch light on your cell phone.

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