Zoroastrianism in Singapore | Of Beliefs & Faiths - video Dailymotion

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Lisa takes a peek into the world of Zoroastrainism, the oldest and smallest religion in Singapore. Find out how this dwindling community evolves to keep their traditions alive.  Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video

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00:00We are exploring the rich spectrum of beliefs that shape our cultural landscape.

00:06From ancient practices to contemporary expressions of faith,

00:10delve into the vibrant tapestry of rituals, customs and spiritual narratives flourishing in Singapore.

00:24With roots stretching back from at least 3,500 years ago,

00:28Zoroastrianism is an ancient faith that has shaped cultures across the globe.

00:34It is Singapore's smallest recognised religion, and I want to learn more about the local Zoroastrian community.

00:45You're in Zoroastrian House this morning, and this is Mr. Hormaz.

00:49Hi, welcome to Zoroastrian House.

00:51I'm Lisa, and I'm very excited to be here to learn more about the Zoroastrians.

00:56Great, so how much do you know about the Zoroastrian faith?

00:58I know that it is one of the oldest religions in the world,

01:02and there's quite a few people here in Singapore who are practising it as well.

01:07Yeah, so I'm just wondering what is Zoroastrianism,

01:10and where it originated from, how it came to our shores,

01:14and roughly how many people are there left in Singapore?

01:17Sure, so this is the best place to learn about it for Singapore.

01:21So let me start off with telling you that Zoroastrianism has been around for over 3,500 years.

01:26Zoroastrians are followers of Prophet Zarathustra.

01:29We are today, unfortunately, one of the smallest religions in the world,

01:33smallest communities in the world, whereas in Singapore we're about 300 to 350 people.

01:38So we call ourselves a large community in Singapore.

01:42Again, what is Zoroastrianism, I told you, followers of the Prophet Zarathustra.

01:47He talked about main teachings of Zarathustra.

01:50He talked about belief in one God, monotheism.

01:54So we are arguably one of the first, or not one of the first,

01:57but the first monotheistic religion in the world, which talks about one God.

02:02So we look up to one God as Ahura Mazda, and what are the three main pillars of that?

02:08Basically, good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.

02:11We also talk about a spiritual world, so we not only talk about a physical world,

02:15in Zoroastrianism there is a spiritual world as well.

02:18There are two opposing forces in the universe, we talk about good versus evil.

02:24Then Zarathustra also taught us about the immortality of the soul.

02:27Once you leave your physical presence, the soul resides continuously.

02:31It's immortal, the soul stays on forever.

02:34It can arguably be said that we are the first ecological religion in the world.

02:38Zarathustra said Ahura Mazda, or God, created the sky, water, earth,

02:43plants, animals, fire, and man.

02:46Man is comparatively superior to all of them,

02:49and it's their responsibility to take care of all the creations created by God.

02:54So if we move on, we talk about fire being essential to our religion,

03:00the main symbol of the Zoroastrian faith.

03:03We are unfortunately referred to sometimes by people as fire worshippers,

03:08which is unfortunately an untrue statement.

03:11We are not fire worshippers for us, fire represents Ahura Mazda.

03:16There is no actual photograph or painting of what God looks like,

03:21and the fire represents God's light and wisdom to us.

03:26So fire plays a very important role in everything which we do,

03:29all our prayers which we perform, it's the main element of our prayers.

03:34Is there another reason why fire is this significant instead of other elements?

03:40Fire, if you look at it, is the ultimate cleanser.

03:43Fire is light, fire dispels darkness.

03:47So if you think about it theologically, in a lot of other religions also,

03:50you look up to fire as something that dispels darkness, creates life,

03:55and therefore fire is always revered in our community.

03:58Imagine how much of the Zoroastrian philosophy has influenced not just other religions,

04:06but even modern concepts of morality and justice.

04:12Zoroaster's teachings were revolutionary.

04:15It's fascinating to think that people were grappling with these ideas

04:20long before other religions were established.

04:24This is a replica of the Cyrus Cylinder, which sits in the British Museum even today.

04:28This is probably the world's first known charter of human rights.

04:34It declares on it equal rights for people of all religions.

04:39And this is a small replica of our most revered fire temple in India today.

04:46We have nine big fire temples, Atash Peram in India,

04:50eight in India, one in what was Persia, today is Iran.

04:55So why do we not have a fire temple in Singapore?

04:59As I told you, in a fire temple, once a fire is consecrated and started,

05:03typically the fire has to burn 365 days, 24 hours a day.

05:07Fire is actually treated like a child.

05:10The fire is tended to five times a day.

05:12And as I said, if the fire goes out, it's considered very inauspicious.

05:16So we do not have a fire temple in Singapore.

05:19However, what we did was we've come up with our own sort of explanation of the fire temple.

05:25So this little prayer hall is a representation of what we would see typically in a fire temple.

05:31Again, the main symbolism of the fire being there in the urn.

05:34Typically, we would have a burning fire in a temple, which would be burning all the time.

05:40But obviously here, we do not have a fire temple.

05:42This is not a consecrated fire.

05:44So it is started up and turned off every time we leave the place.

05:48So Lisa, what we have here is a replica of what an original dakma would look like.

05:53It's basically like a big self-cleaning well in which the bodies are placed.

05:59Again, all individuals would not be allowed in.

06:02There are a set of pallbearers who specifically do this job,

06:06wherein it's put out the elements and birds of prey.

06:09The body is put out and is consumed within a few hours by the birds of prey.

06:14Traditionally, Zoroastrians practice sky burials,

06:19where the deceased are placed in a dakma, also known as a tower of silence.

06:25Scavenger birds were allowed to feed on the remains.

06:28So as not to contaminate the land around it.

06:32For the most part, this practice has been phased out.

06:37The first Parsi cemetery was established in 1828,

06:41at what is now Palmer Road in Tanjong Pagar.

06:44In 1969, the burial ground was acquired by the Singapore government

06:48and first moved to Tampines.

06:50And it's now here in Old Chachakong Road.

06:54I've learnt a lot about the history of Zoroastrianism today.

06:59Tomorrow, I'm going to witness a weekly prayer of thanksgiving and good health.

07:05Dua Tondorosti.

07:24Over 3,500 years.

07:28That's how long this prayer has been passed down.

07:32It's staggering to think about.

07:35Generations upon generations, each one repeating these words,

07:41trusting in their power to keep the balance of health and life.

07:48It's incredible.

07:50This prayer isn't just an echo of the past.

07:54It's a living tradition.

08:18We are here today with the priest of the Zoroastrian community.

08:21Hi Percy, thank you so much for inviting us here today.

08:24And we would love to ask you some questions.

08:26Sure.

08:27Let me start with first asking, what is the prayer conducted today for?

08:32The prayer that you saw me praying, that is a prayer of thanksgiving

08:37that is normally done every Sunday over here.

08:42And so there is a congregation that comes every Sunday to pray over here.

08:47And so we do this prayer of thanksgiving.

08:50So that is what you witness.

08:52But there are other prayers just now presently we are having

08:55the religious days called the Muktad going on.

08:59So those prayers are quite different.

09:02So what is the Muktad exactly?

09:04So Muktad is prayers where it's conducted for the last 10 days of the calendar year.

09:13And we believe that the souls come down to earth.

09:19They bless everybody.

09:21So prayers are conducted for your immediate family,

09:26dear and departed ones who have gone.

09:30And they help you to go through life.

09:34And they bless you.

09:35That sounds really nice.

09:36Because I was wondering what the vases and the flowers were for.

09:40In India, if you are a little bit richer, then you have a separate table.

09:45And you put a vase of your family, all the people that have departed from your family.

09:50You pay a little bit more and prayers are conducted.

09:53And you have a separate table.

09:55But there will be some people who are not so rich.

09:57They may not be able to.

09:58So they just have one big table with everybody's vases in that table.

10:05So it's not that only the rich can have the prayers done

10:08and the poor can't have it done.

10:10So it's for blessings for everyone.

10:13Thank you so much for answering all of my questions.

10:15It was really nice to be part of this experience today

10:18and also learning more about your faith.

10:21Thank you. It was a pleasure.

10:24Spending this time learning more about Desiree Estuaries was unexpectedly enlightening

10:29because just right behind me in this shophouse,

10:31there was so much history and culture which I would have not known if I did not walk in.

10:36So I'm really grateful to have been given this opportunity to learn more about them.

10:54Desiree Estuaries

Zoroastrianism in Singapore | Of Beliefs & Faiths

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