Zoroastrianism (aka Mazdaism) is the world’s oldest known monotheistic religion, with origins in present-day Iran (Persia), where it was the dominant religion for more than a millennium until the advent of Islam in the 7th century CE. Zartoshti (aka Zarathushti, Zoroastrians, Parsi Mazdayasni or Behdini) in Persia who refused to convert to Islam fled to India, where they peacefully settled in Gujarat and became known as Parsi (or Parsee). Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of the prophet Zarathustra (aka Zarathushtra and Zoroaster), who probably lived some time between 1500 and 1000 BCE. Zoroastrianism, the first known religion to teach the ideas of individual judgment and Heaven and Hell, was probably the major formative influence behind the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It may have also informed aspects of Eastern religions. There are now about 200,000 Zartoshti worldwide. The highest number (60,000) live in India, followed by Iran (25,000). Zartoshti in Iran survived centuries of persecution from Muslim rulers, but today there is greater tolerance for them. Zoroastrianism is an ‘ethnic religion’; up until the 20th century, Zartoshti were required to be descended from two Zoroastrian parents, and in India it remains impossible to become Zartoshti if your father was not of the faith, though this stricture is not based on scripture. It is believed that the original scriptures were destroyed after Alexander III of Macedon (aka Alexander the Great) conquered Persia in 334 BCE. What remains of the original scriptures is known as the Avesta (aka Zend-avesta), written in the ancient Iranian language Avestan. These texts did not become available to European scholarship until the late 18th century. According to Zoroastrianism, the world as we know it was formed during an epic battle between an omniscient, powerful (but not omnipotent) all-good creator deity called Ahura Mazda (‘Lord Wisdom’) and an evil spirit called Ahriman. Followers are urged to aid the side of light through Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds in alignment with one’s fravashi (higher self). This presupposes active participation in the world rather than extreme monasticism. Fasting is considered a sin, and there are no general dietary or alcohol restrictions. Women and men are considered spiritual equals, and followers are urged to spread happiness and protect and venerate water, earth, fire and air. There is an obligation to work hard, make money, enjoy the results and give generously. Worship is not prescriptive. Followers traditionally pray several times a day but can choose whether and how they wish to pray. Prayers are said facing the sun or other source of light. Zartoshti worship communally in fire temples and believe fire and water are the twin agents of purity, necessary for ritual cleansing. Traditionally, to dispose of their dead, Zartoshti would leave the bodies in Towers of Silence to be consumed by vultures because burying or cremating the dead is seen as polluting nature, but contemporary realities including declining populations of vultures have forced them to turn to other methods. Zartoshti have seven annual ‘feasts of obligation’, scheduled according to whichever calendar is used (Qadīmī, Shenshai or Gregorian). These festivals are: Nowruz (Persian New Year) and Gahambar (aka Ghambar or Gahanbar), which are six 5-day festivals to honour the 5 material creations: earth, water, plants, animals and humans. The Gahambar festivals are: Maidyozarem (mid-spring); Maidyoi-shema (midsummer); Paitishahema (autumn harvest); Ayathrem (‘bringing home the herds’, a time to sow winter crops); Maidyarem (winter feast); Hamaspathmaidym (spring equinox and ‘all souls’). The most famous Parsi to date, born Farrokh Bulsara to Parsi parents from Gujarat, moved to Britain in 1964 where he took the name Freddie Mercury.