Zoroastrian Rituals And Practices

What options are open to a person, particularly a Westerner, who is interested in Zoroastrianism and the worship of Ahura Mazda?

Discussion on the importance of initiation in Zoroastrianism as well as descriptions of the actual ceremony.

Zoroastrians strive for purity in their lives, and death is considered the one of the ultimate corrupting influences. As such, Zoroastrian funeral rites strongly focus on ways to keep the surviving community uncontaminated from the recently deceased.

The kusti is a ceremonial cord worn around the waist and ritually tied several times during the day by Zoroastrians. It is is a remainder of their faith and their devotion to Ahura Mazda.

The Bareshnum is a ritual bath that provides personal purification. While it can be performed for any Zoroastrian who has been seriously defiled, today it is generally only done for those who are preparing for priestly ordination, priests who have been defiled in some way, and corpse bearers, as corpses are considered particularly defiling and...