Parsi Community Essay

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History • Around 766AD, a small group of Iranian Zoroastrians set sail in open sailing vessels, and landed at Divo Dui , a tiny Island at the tip of Kathiawar coast. • Their they settled for nineteen years to practice their path in peace. • They again set sail in open sailing vessels and landed at the fishing village of Sanjan where Jadi Rana or Jadav Rana gave them refuge. • The Parsis spread in small colonies all along the west coast of Gujarat. • Between the eight and Fifteenth centuries the Parsis settled in various small towns on the Gujarat coast. • They settled down as farmers and agriculturists, fruit growers, toddy planters, carpenters and weavers. • Parsis were excellent weavers and they gave India three ancient crafts, namely the Surti ghat, the Garo and the Tanchoi. • Today they are mostly found in Mumbai, India. Parsis as an ethnic community • The term ‘Parsi' is derived from Parsa, the name of a province in south -western Iran in ancient times. The word 'Parsi ' literally means 'a resident of Pars'. • Parsis are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who emigrated to the Indian subcontinent over 1,000 years ago. • Recent Zoroastrian immigrants are known as Iranis. • Most Indian Parsis have lost social or familial ties to Persians. • Parsis have integrated themselves into Indian society while simultaneously maintaining their own distinct customs and traditions. Parsi people • Parsis are a fun loving community and celebrate every possible festival with equal fervor. • "We have to procreate and there are no two thoughts about it. But we don't force our young ones into anything like we were forced by our elders times have changed and we have to change with it,“ said Dadi Mistry, president, Delhi Parsi Anjuman. • "Our biggest strength as a community is the fact that

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