Preservation Struggles of Parsi Funeral Practices

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This chapter delves into the controversies and challenges surrounding the preservation of Parsi funeral traditions, focusing on the conflict between traditionalists and reformers regarding cremation and the maintenance of the Towers of Silence. It follows the efforts to reintroduce Vultures to the Towers of Silence and the struggles faced in creating a Vulture aviary, ultimately highlighting the dilemmas faced in maintaining cultural practices in the face of modern challenges and changing landscapes.

Situated right in downtown Mumbai, India is an area of about 55 acres of dense, overgrown forest. In one of the most populous cities in the world, this is a place where peacocks roam freely -- a space out of time. This forest is protected by a religious community. It has survived in a relatively undeveloped state in the middle of this gargantuan city. Importantly, it’s also home to an ancient tradition in crisis -- one that is central to the lives (and deaths) of a particular population.

There’s a certain point in this forest beyond which almost no one can step -- only special caretakers of these grounds can go any further. They go by many names: khandia, nassassalar, pallbearer, corpse bearer. Their work here is holy. They carry dead bodies to their final resting place – atop stone structures that stand gray against the lush green. These buildings are called Towers of Silence.

Towers of Silence

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