Karachi's only 'Tower of Silence' where Parsis perform funeral rites of their dead

A 164-year-old 'Tower of Silence' located in Karachi's Mehmoodabad area, where the Zoroastrian (Parsi) community still practices their ancient tradition of leaving their dead to be consumed by sun or vultures.

Chairman Karachi Parsi Anjuman Trust Fund, Dinshaw Avari, revealed that this method of burial has been practiced for 10,000 years, dating back to 8000 years before Christ.

"The Tower of Silence, or Dakhma, is a round tower-like building on a raised platform, with an open roof. The dead body is kept under the open roof in this tower," Avari explained. 

"Earlier, the dead were eaten by vultures or other birds. But since there are no vultures now, the body of the dead decomposes due to the heat of the sun."

According to Avari, the Parsi community believes in preserving the natural elements of earth, i.e. water, air, fire, and plants, and therefore avoids burying or cremating their dead.

"We put them on the Tower of Silence, where they are consumed by the sun in two days," he said.

The Tower of Silence in Karachi is one of the few places in the world where this ancient tradition still continues.

With only a handful of Parsi families remaining in Pakistan, the community is dwindling, but their unique customs and traditions remain an integral part of their identity.

"Parsis are 100% literate and adaptable, which is why they settle easily everywhere in the world," Avari noted. 

"But despite our small numbers, we are proud to continue our ancient traditions, like the Tower of Silence, which connect us to our rich heritage."