Photographing Parsee temples is not an option open to non-Parsees. Parsee temples do not allow non-Parsees inside. That does not prevent us the lesser mortals from using our cameras from outside.

One can see the marks of the Holy Fire here.

Among the familiarities we find here is the Dwarpal-like figurines at the gate.

And the ‘rangoli’ on the ground: The Gujarati/Marathi ‘Toran’ is also a part of Parsi culture.

We start our journey in this small village with a delicious lunch at Sodawaterwala. They have rooms but we cant stay there. The guests have to be Parsis.

Most of the Parsi part of this village has the streets made of interlocking bricks.

The village has a beach but nota very clean one, the sand is not good at any rate.

Any stranger will be able to make out that this is a very old place.

The town has water wells in many places. The one in front of our hotel is of 13th Century. It still holds water.

The charming village also has an interesting Parsi Information Centre which has many exhibits providing insight into the history of the Parsees.

 

This man who stays in the village has spent time in Pune  and has mixed up his Iranian-made religion with the local Gods, a strange mixture.

Homi Talyarkhan has a chowk named after him in thevillage.

This kind of tiles are still in use in Udvada although the streets have interlocking blocks.

If you are from Udvada, own a buffalo who needs to be taken to the doctor, you sit in a autorikshaw and drag the buffalo with a rope.

24th Sept. 2016

Posted on 30th Sept. 2016