NA community census

The FEZANA Journal recorded 50 percent interfaith marriages in the community in North America in 2008 as compared to 47.5 percent in the previous year, notes the census summary carried in FEZANA Journal (Summer 2009). Based on the data carried in the eight quarterly issues of FEZANA Journal, 13 community and 13 interfaith marriages were recorded in 2008 as versus 21 community and 19 interfaith marriages in 2007. The decline in the total number of marriages from 40 in 2007 to 26 in 2008 could possibly be because 2008 was a leap year which is generally considered inauspicious for weddings. A similar trend has been observed in the Bombay community too.

The death count remained at 92 for both the years. But while in 2007 there were four more males who died as compared to the 44 females, in 2008 there were 10 more male deaths than the 41 recorded among the females. The total number of births in 2007 were 75 (39 boys, 36 girls) as compared to 61 in 2008 (29 boys, 32 girls), a decline of 14, which works out to 19 percent. Deaths outnumbered births by 17 in 2007 which means a depletion of 18 percent. In 2008 there were 31 more deaths than births or a depletion of 34 percent.

As compared to 31 navjotes (21 boys, 10 girls) performed in 2007, 45 (20 boys, 25 girls) were done in 2008.