Zoroastrianism is a small religious community, with its population base centered around Mumbai, established by Zarathustra in the 6th or 7th century BC. The followers are called Parsis because they came from Persia, now Iran, from where they were exiled in the 7th century AD because of religious persecutions by the Muslims. They traveled by sea, arriving in the coastal state of what is now called Gujarat in Western India.

The Parsis believe in the existence of one invisible God. They believe that there is a continuous war between the good forces (forces of light), exemplified by good deeds, thought and speech and the evil forces (forces of darkness). God is represented in their temples through fire, which symbolizes light and believe that fire, water, air and earth are pure elements to be preserved. The holiest place for them is the village of Udvada in Gujarat, India.

The Parsis are a close knit community numbering about 0.01% of India’s population, however, they have contributed more to India than perhaps any other minority. Some Parsis were founders of the Indian Nationalist movement (for freedom from the British); they established modern Indian industry; they have been benevolent and have contributed enormously to establish charitable and such institutions in India, and they continue to oversee some of the bigger finance houses in India.