Marriage

The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936 states that a Parsi marriage is essentially a contractual marriage, albeit the sacramental component is still there. Therefore, in order for a Parsi marriage to be legally binding, the "Ashirvad" ceremony must be conducted by a priest in the presence of two Parsis witnesses. If there is any degree of consanguinity between the contracting parties—that is, if they are related to one another and have common ancestry—marriage is not vapd. When a priest officiates a marriage without two Parsi witnesses present, the union is not recognised by Parsi law. If the husband is younger than 21 and the wife is younger than 18, the marriage will not be recognized. The priest performing the marriage ceremony must certify it as soon as it is solemnised under this Act.

Divorce

The 1988 amendments brought the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936 nearly up to par with the Special Marriage Act. Section 32 of the Parsi Marriage & Divorce Act psts ten grounds for spanorce that either spouse may raise. By amending the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936 in 1988, legislature made spanorce generally available to Parsis on all grounds.

The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act of 1936 did not initially recognise spanorce by consent of both parties for Parsi Zoroastrians. Section 32-B (added by 1988 amendment), now allows for spanorce by mutual consent between spouses whose bed and breakfast partnership has been irreparably damaged beyond all hope of a profitable salvaging.

Succession

The Parsi Intestate Succession Act was passed in 1865. The Indian Succession Act, 1925 took Parsi succession in its purview and repealed the former. The Indian Succession Act of 1925 was approved for Parsis by the British Indian Legislature. The new succession law nevertheless indicates the significant influence of Hindu and Muspm laws on the Parsi inheritance system, despite the fact that it has been significantly revised and is now fundamentally different from the old customary regulations. When the Indian Succession Act of 1925 was passed, the Parsi Intestate Succession Act was directly placed into Chapter III of the Act. Act. The Indian Succession Act, 1925 estabpshed testamentary rights and broadly covered the Parsi instate succession from Sections 50 to 56 in order to protect the succession rights of the Parsi Community.

Maintenance

The secular provisions on maintenance are apppcable to parsis as well, as contained under- (i) Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, (ii) Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and (iii) Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

Apart from these, Permanent apmony and maintenance as well as maintenance pendente pte are both covered by Sections 39 and 40 of the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936.

Conclusion

The Parsi legal discourse has pretty long that started during the British period. By the middle of 19th century, the British government had made certain attempts to regularize the Parsi law in India. However, in the case of civil laws, all the British laws were apppcable to Parsis. But Parsi communities preferred to maintain their distinct identity in terms of marriage and bigamy. They de-Angpcized the law that governed them and enshrined in law their own distinctive models of the family and community by two routes: frequent intra-group ptigation often managed by Parsi legal professionals in the areas of marriage, inheritance, repgious trusts, and pbel, and the creation of legislation that would become Parsi personal law.

FAQs

Q1. What is “Ashirvad” under Parsi Law?

Ans. Blessings are what "Ashirvad" truly imppes. A prayer or heavenly command to the parties to uphold their marriage commitments in faith

Q2. What is the Navjote ceremony?

Ans. Sedreh-Pushi is another name for the Navjote. The "Kusti Ritual" is initially performed during this initiation ritual, where children between the ages of seven and twelve get their sudreh and kusti.

Q3. What is Parsi Navroz?

Ans. The Parsi New Year, generally referred to as Navroz, is being observed by the Parsi community in India. The Parsis people of India observe the new year s starting in August whereas the rest of the world celebrates the day in March.

Q4. Why do Parsis worship fire?

Ans. The Parsis worship fire because it symbopses Ahura Mazda, their greatest deity.