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Distinctive Practices
Death and the Afterlife:
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Concern for purity
extends beyond humanity to nature itself. As evidenced by the treatment of
the dead, the natural elements are considered pure and ought not be defiled.
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Remains of the dead are
ordinarily not buried nor cremated for this would defile the natural
elements of earth and fire. Rather, the dead are placed in a "Tower
of Silence" where scavenger birds will pick the carcass clean and
the bones will rot away to dust.
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It is believed that,
upon death, there is a personal judgment of the soul. One will go to heaven
or to hell depending upon the degree to which one participated in goodness
in life.
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But hell is not eternal
(neither is heaven). At the final Judgment, once Goodness has won the final
battle against Evil, all the dead will be resurrected to live in the world
of good.
Importance of Fire:
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Of all the natural
elements, fire is the most important.
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Fire is a symbol of
Ahura Mazda (The Aryans,
who originated in the area near Persia, used fire in their ritual
activities. For them fire - ["ignite"] - was a god).
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The most important
sacred places for Zoroastrians are the Fire Temples where priests
chant prayers, hymns and blessings around the clock.
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Zoroastrians will go
there whenever they feel the need - for personal spiritual uplift, for
special personal or family occasions, or at times of community holy days.
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Each temple has a
central fire tended day and night by the priests. When a new Temple is
dedicated, the fire is brought from the main temple in Bombay. That fire has
been burning from the time it was brought there from Persia some 1200 years
ago.
Holy Days:
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The Persian New Year,
Naw Ruz, celebrated on the Spring Equinox
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Birth and death of the
Prophet Zarathustra
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Six annual seasonal
celebrations called Ghambars recognizing the creation of sky, water, earth,
plants, animal, and human beings. These are also harvest festivals
originating from ancient times.
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