A Tower of Silence, or dakhma, stands as a circular, raised stone platform where Zoroastrians lay out their dead. Rooted in a profound respect for nature’s elements—earth, water, fire, and air—the practice keeps earthly contamination at bay. In Zoroastrian lore, a corpse is considered the ultimate pollutant, and burial or cremation would taint the very foundations of creation. By placing the body atop the dakhma, scavenger birds—chiefly vultures—naturally “cleanse” the remains, leaving only bones to be swept into a central pit. It’s a partnership with nature that’s stood the test of millennia.

Traditionally located on a hill or remote plain, these towers allow the sun and scavengers to do the heavy lifting. Ritual guardians, known as naszis, oversee the process, reciting prayers and ensuring every last fragment is treated with dignity. Once the bones have dried, they’re gathered and stored in an ossuary, completing the cycle without polluting soil or fire.

Recent decades have thrown a curveball: vulture populations in India plummeted after veterinary drugs like diclofenac entered the food chain. With “air ambulances” in short supply, Parsis in Mumbai and beyond have explored solar concentrators—essentially giant mirrors—to accelerate natural decomposition. Some communities even weigh the pros and cons of ground burials or electric crematoria, all while grappling with how to honor ancient tradition amid modern challenges.

Rather than letting age-old customs gather dust, this adaptive spirit shows how a faith can dance with change. The Tower of Silence isn’t just a relic; it’s a living testament to harmony between belief and the natural world.