Milestones
Bombay: The Telling Figures for 2017
Bombay reported 13 more interfaith marriages in 2017 as compared to the previous year’s count of 63. With 76 outmarriages in 2017 of which 43 were by Parsi males and 33 by females, the percentage of interfaith marriages rose to 44 in 2017. The number of Parsi marriages registered in 2017 was 95, a drop of eight from the preceding year’s count of 103. Among those who had married out, 57% were males and 43% females as compared to the 2016 figures of 63% males and 37% females.
The average age for grooms was 32 years and for brides, 31 years, a marginal decline from the previous year’s figures of 34 years for grooms and 32 years for brides. The youngest bride was aged 22 years and the eldest, 45 years. Among grooms, the youngest was aged 23 years, and the eldest, 48 years.
The maximum number of community marriages, 29, were in the month of January, followed by 18 in December and 16 in November. There was not a single community marriage and only one interfaith marriage in October. The highest number of interfaith marriages, 15, were in December, followed by 13 in January and 12 in November. The summer months of May and June saw one and two community marriages respectively while the number of interfaith marriages in these two months was six each.
There were 19 deaths less in 2017 as compared to the 2016 count of 772. While the number of those consigned to dakhmas dropped by only one from 677 to 676, the number of those cremated declined by 20 from 97 to 77. Thus 90% of the deceased were consigned to the dakhmas and 10% cremated in Bombay. Among those cremated, 39 were males and 38 were females as compared to 44 males and 53 females who opted to be cremated in 2016. The number of males consigned to the dakhmas was 308, lower by 32 as compared to the 2016 count of 340. The number of females consigned to the dakhmas was 368, an increase of 31 over the 2016 count of 337. Among those consigned to the dakhmas, 54% were females and 46% were males in 2017.
The average age at death was 81 years. The eldest to die was a 103-year-old lady and the youngest was a 32-year-old man. There were eight deceased who had crossed 100 years of age, five males and three females as per the Doongerwadi death list sent to Parsiana by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Among those cremated, there were three ladies who passed away at 99 years and 12 others who were nonagenarians, as per the details sent by the Prayer Hall Trust, Worli.
The Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) birth totals are no longer available to the BPP. On July 28, 2017 an email from the Management Information Sysem of the BMC noted: "From January 1st, births and deaths registration is stored in the Central Government Civil Registration System (CRS). At present religion wise report (cannot be generated) through CRS. Therefore the information required by you is not available in this office. When the information will be available, we will give it to you.”
As per information available with Parsiana there were 91 births in 2017, 20 more compared to the 2016 count. Among the new borns, there were 49 males and 42 females. The number of males had increased by eight, the number of females rose by 12 as compared to the 2016 count. For the birth information, Parsiana is dependent on the Breach Candy Hospital and families who notify us by enclosing a copy of the birth certificate.
Presented below are the 2017 demographic details pertaining to the Zoroastrian community residing in Bombay based on information available with Parsiana.
Births (listed in Parsiana): 91
Boys: 49, Girls: 42
Marriages: 171
Parsi: 95, Interfaith: 76
Males married out: 43
Females married out: 33
Deaths: 753
Consigned to dakhmas: 676
Males: 308, Females: 368
Cremated: 77
Males: 39, Females: 38
The average age for grooms was 32 years and for brides, 31 years, a marginal decline from the previous year’s figures of 34 years for grooms and 32 years for brides. The youngest bride was aged 22 years and the eldest, 45 years. Among grooms, the youngest was aged 23 years, and the eldest, 48 years.
The maximum number of community marriages, 29, were in the month of January, followed by 18 in December and 16 in November. There was not a single community marriage and only one interfaith marriage in October. The highest number of interfaith marriages, 15, were in December, followed by 13 in January and 12 in November. The summer months of May and June saw one and two community marriages respectively while the number of interfaith marriages in these two months was six each.
There were 19 deaths less in 2017 as compared to the 2016 count of 772. While the number of those consigned to dakhmas dropped by only one from 677 to 676, the number of those cremated declined by 20 from 97 to 77. Thus 90% of the deceased were consigned to the dakhmas and 10% cremated in Bombay. Among those cremated, 39 were males and 38 were females as compared to 44 males and 53 females who opted to be cremated in 2016. The number of males consigned to the dakhmas was 308, lower by 32 as compared to the 2016 count of 340. The number of females consigned to the dakhmas was 368, an increase of 31 over the 2016 count of 337. Among those consigned to the dakhmas, 54% were females and 46% were males in 2017.
The average age at death was 81 years. The eldest to die was a 103-year-old lady and the youngest was a 32-year-old man. There were eight deceased who had crossed 100 years of age, five males and three females as per the Doongerwadi death list sent to Parsiana by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Among those cremated, there were three ladies who passed away at 99 years and 12 others who were nonagenarians, as per the details sent by the Prayer Hall Trust, Worli.
The Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) birth totals are no longer available to the BPP. On July 28, 2017 an email from the Management Information Sysem of the BMC noted: "From January 1st, births and deaths registration is stored in the Central Government Civil Registration System (CRS). At present religion wise report (cannot be generated) through CRS. Therefore the information required by you is not available in this office. When the information will be available, we will give it to you.”
As per information available with Parsiana there were 91 births in 2017, 20 more compared to the 2016 count. Among the new borns, there were 49 males and 42 females. The number of males had increased by eight, the number of females rose by 12 as compared to the 2016 count. For the birth information, Parsiana is dependent on the Breach Candy Hospital and families who notify us by enclosing a copy of the birth certificate.
Presented below are the 2017 demographic details pertaining to the Zoroastrian community residing in Bombay based on information available with Parsiana.
Births (listed in Parsiana): 91
Boys: 49, Girls: 42
Marriages: 171
Parsi: 95, Interfaith: 76
Males married out: 43
Females married out: 33
Deaths: 753
Consigned to dakhmas: 676
Males: 308, Females: 368
Cremated: 77
Males: 39, Females: 38
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