Sally Ryan

Essays: Zoroastrians

In Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic religion begun in ancient Persia that predates Christianity, fire symbolizes purity and a divine spark within every person. The number of Zoroastrians has dwindled to less than 300,000 worldwide due to intermarriage and the mobility of the followers. Approximately 300 Zoroastrian families live in the greater Chicagoland area, and attend services at the fire temple of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

Members and visitors fill the fire temple at the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago during the annual fire ceremony.
   
A crowd of Zoroastrians gather in the fire temple, offering prayers to the dead beneath the likeness of the prophet Zarathushtra during the annual fire ceremony at the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago.
   
Edul Udvadia, 85, keeps a photo of his wife, Gool, next to the likeness of the Zoroastrian prophet, Zarathushtra in his wallet. Udvadia is a member of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago and recently celebrated the annual fire ceremony that honors the dead.
     
  
Priests surround the fire that emits a sandalwood scent and recite prayers during the fire ceremony at the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago.
   
Sticks of sandalwood are used to keep the flames burning during the fire ceremony at the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago.
   
Rayomand Ravji serves as a priest in the annual fire ceremony at the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago. The priests wear cloth masks to keep saliva away from the fire during prayer recitations.
     
  
The Khordeh Avesta, prayer book used during the Zoroastrian fire ceremony.
   
Zoroastrian priests perform a fire ceremony and prayers to honor the dead at the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago. Adherents to the ancient Persian religion are debating whether to accept converts or to recognize the children of mixed marriages as a way to boost the waning congregation numbers.
   
Priest Soli Dastur greets his old friend, Dilshad Antia, at the fire ceremony.
     
  
Viraf Darukhanawalla ties the Kushti around his waist as he recites his prayers during the annual fire ceremony at the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago. The Kushti is a sacred cord worn by Zoroastrians to fight against evil.
   
Congregants fill the main hall of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago during the annual fire ceremony to pray for the souls of loved ones who have died.
   
Jennifer Kavina, 3, listened to the priests deliver prayers to honor the dead. Many Zoroastrian women are working professionals who, like other professional women, have few or no children.
     
  
Inside the fire temple of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Jamshed Ravji prays for the souls of loved ones who passed away.