The Zoroastrian Dakhma is one of the tourist attractions in Yazd province, attracting many tourists yearly.
The Dakhma is not only a tourist attraction but a symbol of the culture and religion of the Zoroastrian ancestors and their respect for the environment. The Zoroastrian Dakhma, also known as the Tower of Silence, the Dakhma or the fortress, or the crematorium, is the name of a place used, before the birth of Zoroastrianism, to let the bodies of the dead perish. This Dakhma is located 15 kilometers south of Yazd city and near Safaiyeh, at the height of a Dakhma mountain. In this place, there are two stone structures in the shape of a circle and a tower-like hollow called a crypt or a court. In the distant past, Zoroastrian dead bodies were placed in this tower to be fed to vultures and carrion-eating birds, which was the job of “Nesa-salar”. Later, the bones that remained were thrown into a well called Ostudan. This was done to prevent soil contamination. On the side of this mountain are several mud, brick, and stone buildings equipped with the conveniences of their time, called “Beh Khileh.” The oldest works in this area are on the western side, which goes back to the Safavid era. Any mourning for the loss of the dead is improper among Zoroastrian believers.
Photos By Kousha Jamshidi
