Mumbai, India - The Parsi community has welcomed non-Zoroastrians into their fold, with the announcement of constructing the first universal fire-temple in the city within two years. At a meeting organised by the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ), their trustee Kerssie Wadia, on Saturday declared that a 14,000 sqft plot of land near the Western Express Highway had been allotted for the temple.
A Parsi businessman who does not wish to be named, owns the land. “Last year we started a prayer room in Colaba, where non-Zoroastrians could pray together with Zoroastrians. That was a progressive move, but with this announcement our dream of many years may now materialise,” Vispy Wadia, another trustee of ARZ said.
Zoroastrian Gathic scholar, Dina McIntyre — a Parsi married to an American, gave a comprehensive talk on the scriptures of the religion that was never against conversion. Zoroastrianism has traditionally not allowed the children of women married out of the religion to inherit it. But welcoming the liberal move, Rizina Chaterji, a school teacher said, “I am a Parsi married to a Hindu, but we want our child to grow as Parsis. When my husband has no objection, why should anybody else stop us? It is after all a universal religion”.
McIntyre in her talk said that in earlier days, when people were converting to other religions voluntarily, some religious priests prohibited non-Zoroastrians and those marrying non- Zoroastrians, to survive as a cohesive unit. “With conversions on the rise, the priests thought they were taking a protective measure. But the religion itself never laid down any such rules”. McIntyre said.
Guest of Honour, Supreme Court Judge, BN Shrikrishna said, “If Zoroastrianism is universal, I too should be Zoroastrian.” He welcomed ARZ’s step and said, “It takes time for people to break traditions, but it’s better late than never.”
Darayas Malegam, an ARZ supporter said, “It’s not only people who have had inter-religious marriages in their family, who are supporting the cause, but a fairly large part of the community feels that its time to leave rigid beliefs behind.”