dakhma

Dakhma, or tower of silence, is a funerary structure used by Zoroastrians for exposing the dead to the elements and to scavenging birds as part of traditional rites. The practice reflects a belief in keeping deceased persons from polluting earth or fire, two of the religion’s sacred elements, by avoiding cremation or burial.

The term dakhma comes from Middle Persian, and the structure is typically circular or near-circular, enclosed by a high exterior wall and open to the sky. Inside, an area is used to place the body for exposure, and an ossuary is often used to store bones after the flesh has decayed.

In ritual practice, after customary cleansing and funeral rites, the body is brought to the dakhma and laid on the exposure area. Over time, the flesh is removed by scavengers, commonly vultures, after which the skeleton is collected and placed in an ossuary within the building. The design and layout are intended to separate the dead from living quarters while allowing natural elements to perform the final stages of decomposition.

Historically, dakhmas have been used by Zoroastrians in Iran and among the Parsis of India, particularly in urban centers. In the modern era, the number of active towers has declined in some regions due to legal restrictions, urban development, and ecological changes affecting scavenger birds. Where used, towers may be maintained by communities, repurposed, or supplemented by alternative disposal practices, reflecting evolving social and environmental conditions.