Parsee

Parsee, an alternative spelling of Parsi, designates a member of the Parsis, a Zoroastrian community traditionally based in the Indian subcontinent. The Parsis are descendants of Persian Zoroastrians who migrated to India to escape religious persecution following the Muslim conquest of Persia, beginning around the 7th to 10th centuries. Most settled along the western coast of India, especially in Gujarat, and later formed large urban communities in Mumbai and Pune; smaller communities exist in Pakistan and elsewhere.

Religion and culture: Parsis follow Zoroastrianism, worshipping Ahura Mazda and emphasizing truth, charity, and community service. Traditional religious life centers on fire temples and ritual purity; notable practices include Navjote, the initiation of children into the faith, and distinctive wedding and funeral rites. Historically, many Parsis practiced exposure rites in towers of silence, though modern arrangements vary due to space constraints and regulatory factors.

Society and influence: Over the centuries Parsis have played a prominent role in Indian public life, education, and industry. They established major industrial and financial enterprises, philanthropic foundations, and professional associations. Notable Parsis include industrialists Jamsetji Tata and Ratan Tata, scientist Homi J. Bhabha, and scholar Dadabhai Naoroji, among others.

Demographics and nomenclature: The spelling Parsee is an older variant; most contemporary sources use Parsi or Parsis. The community is relatively small and aging, with the majority living in India and smaller diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, and elsewhere. Global numbers are typically estimated in the tens of thousands.