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
In ritual practice, after customary cleansing and funeral rites, the body is brought to the dakhma and
Historically, dakhmas have been used by Zoroastrians in Iran and among the Parsis of India, particularly in