a person from Pars (the middle-Persian word for Fars), a region now within the geographical boundaries of Iran, and is roughly the original homeland of the Persian people. The word Persia itself derives from Persis, the Greek form of Pars.
a member of the close-knit Zoroastrian community from/in India, and are descendants of people who, in the 8th century, emigrated to India from Persia to escape religious persecution. Indian census data (2001) records 69,601 Parsis in India, with a concentration in and around the city of Bombay. The number of Parsis worldwide is estimated to be less than 100,000. In 2004, the Indian government accorded the Parsi community the status of scheduled tribe which provides them with special protection and direct representation in Parliament. One famous Parsi was singer-musician Freddie Mercury.
PARSEES, or Parsis, the followers in India of Zoroaster (Zarathustra), being the descendants of the ancient Persians who emigrated to India on the conquest of their country by the Arabs in the 8th century.
In 1901 the total number of Parsees in all India was 94,000, of whom all but 7000 were found in the Bombay presidency and the adjoining state of Baroda, the rest being widely scattered as traders in the large towns.
The funeral ceremonies of the Parsees are solemn and imposing.
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