2014: The Telling Figures

The community in Bombay witnessed 153 marriages amongst Zoroastrians as compared to 92 interfaith unions in 2014, indicating that 38% are outmarriages. This figure has declined by one percent from the 39% interfaith marriages recorded last year. Of the 92 who married out of the community, 51 were males and 41 were females, revealing that 55% of males as versus 45% of females opted for non-Zoroastrian spouses. Last year, 58% males and 42% females had married out of the community. Whilst this year the total count of marriages was 245, last year it was 254 of which 156 were Parsi and 98 were interfaith. As compared to the preceding year, there were nine less marriages in 2014, a decline of three Parsi marriages and six interfaith marriages.
The average age for grooms, 33 years, was the same as in 2013. The average age of brides which was 29 years in 2013 rose by one to 30 years. Amongst the grooms, the eldest was 52 years old and the youngest, 24. Amongst the brides, the eldest was 48 years, and the youngest 21. In January, there were 34 community marriages, the highest in 2014, whilst there was only two in June, and none in August and October. The maximum number of interfaith marriages, 21, were in December whilst there were only two in July and none in August. Data on community marriages is obtained from the Bombay High Court, and of interfaith marriages from the Registrar of Marriages at Fort and Khar.
As per details available with Parsiana there were 86 births, 48 being boys and 38 girls. Last year when we had data on 90 births, 50 were of boys and 40 of girls. Our data is based on the Breach Candy Hospital that supplies us information as also families who send us copies of birth certificates. The Parsiana figures do not reflect the total number of Parsi births in Bombay. The Bombay Municipal Corporation has not yet announced the official birth figures for 2014. In 2013 the BMC figures were 174 community births: 97 boys and 77 girls.
The number of deaths increased by 37 from 756 in 2013 to 793 in 2014 with 348 being males and 398, females. The number of those consigned to the dakhmas increased by 35 from 711 to 746. The average age at death was 81 years, the same as the preceding year. Amongst the deceased, the eldest was a 107-year-old man whilst the youngest was a two-and-a-half-month baby boy. As per the Doongerwadi death list sent to Parsiana every month by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, there were three centenarians plus four others who passed away at the age of 99.
The number of cremations remained the same as in 2013 at 45: 25 being males and 20, females as compared to 21 males and 22 females (+ two unknown) in 2013. Of these, 37 were cremated at Chandanwadi, three at the Shivaji Park crematorium, two at Sion and one each at Andheri, Dahisar and Ghatkopar. (This is not an exhaustive listing of those cremated.)

Presented below are the 2014 demographic figures pertaining to the Zoroastrian community in Bombay based on data available with Parsiana:
Births: 86
Boys: 48, Girls: 38 (Parsiana figures)
Marriages: 245
Parsi: 153, Interfaith: 92
Males married out: 51
Females married out: 41
Deaths: 793
Consigned: 746
Males: 348, Females: 398
Cremated: 45
Males: 25, Females: 20
Buried: 2
Males: 1 (at sea), Female: 1