Christianity
Indian Christians, according to an estimate, now number nearly 25
million.
Another version declares Saint Bartholomew as the first Christian
missionary in India.
Anyway, regardless of who came first, India has a distinct Christian
community comprising of Catholics, Methodists, Baptists,
Presbyterians, Scientologists and just about any other sect of
Christianity.
¤ Zoroastrianism (Parsis)
Parsis are the descendants of Persians who fled to India after the
Arab conquest of Iran in the eighth century. They brought
Zoroastrianism to India with them and settled down in western India.
Most Parsis live in Gujarat and Maharashtra, worship Ahura Mazda
(Wise Lord) who is eternally in conflict with the evil Ahriman, and
have adopted Gujarati as their language. Their places of worship are
called Fire Temples, where a flame is always kept burning. Parsis tend
to be very insular as a community. They do not marry outsiders, nor do
they allow people of other religion into their temples.
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