Camel ride to Chak-Chak

"They welcome me near the flame with open arms. I ask about the fire, and am told that they believe in brightness and must always worship towards the light. I feel happy I have found the people of the flame,” recounted Australian photojournalist David Adams referring to his interaction with Zoroastrians when he visited the ruins of Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Persian empire.
His experience, that is available for viewing on youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Q2ZxstfJejM was brought to Parsiana’s attention by Lily Bhagat Seeney of UK.
Adams subsequently traveled over desert and rough terrain on camel back until he reached Chak-Chak, embedded in a massive mountain. Considered amongst the most important of Zoroastrian shrines, he was impressed that at Chak-Chak, also known as Pir-e Sabz, anyone entering its portals must purify himself/herself by washing the hands and face, leaving footwear by the door and covering the head before walking into the sanctuary. "There before me is the flame I have traveled all this way to see — what an honor. I see and hear the worshipers. Even though I can’t understand the words I can see from their faces something that needs no translation…As I watch the flames I am reminded of a man who first conceived those values we still hold sacred today. Long before the dawn of Judaism, Christianity and Islam it was Zoroaster who first saw a single supreme being, a struggle between good and evil, a savior, a last judgment, and a beginning and an end…”

"The passionate way in which David narrates the story of the holy fire is amazing. For a foreigner to be so passionate about our religion just proves to show that our community requires people from all sects of life other than Parsis to show the world who and what we are and how proud we are of what we have,” states Seeney. Hoping that the "do-gooders of our community would take the trouble and the time to hear and see” David’s film she adds, "Let this be an eye-opener to those opposing bringing of other people into our religion as well as opposing cremation and mixed race marriages. It is about time people…woke up and smelt the coffee. We are living in the 21st century and not in the days of the Ark… Why the hell can’t we accept people who are so interested and enthusiastic to join?”
In response to Parsiana’s queries, 60-year-old Seeney revealed that she was born and educated in Bombay. At the age of 22 she left Bombay to pursue a career in the airlines and whilst in Bahrain she met her husband Patrick Seeney, an aircraft engineer who was British-Irish. In 1995 they left Bahrain with plans to lead a life of semi-retirement in Stratford upon Avon but Patrick was soon offered another job and Lily, being bored at home, opted to become a personal assistant to the chief executive officer of a debt collection company.
She further wrote, "I was not very religious as a young girl but after my mum (Aloo Bhagat) and sister (Viloo Pardivala) passed away in 1998 within a span of one month, something kicked in within me and I sought solace and refuge in a bit of prayer. This was further strengthened when my darling husband and soul mate suddenly passed away in 2011. He was extremely interested in and passionate about our religion in spite of being brought up as a Catholic. He never ever practised his own religion but read several articles and books on Zoroastrianism with great enthusiasm... I can just see him egging me on.”
Added Lily, "I find great solace in going to a church as much as an agiary. They are both places of worship and if I can be welcomed with open arms in a church, why not others in my faith?”