Did you know some Zoroastrians used 'Towers of Silence' for unique funerals?

This ancient funerary practice, conducted in structures known as Dakhmas or 'Towers of Silence,' was rooted in the Zoroastrian belief that earth and fire—both sacred elements—should not be defiled by decaying matter. Instead of burial or cremation, bodies were exposed to the sun and birds, allowing nature to dispose of the flesh. Once only bones remained, they were collected and placed into a central well within the Dakhma. While historically significant, the practice has faced decline due to modern urban development, health regulations, and dwindling vulture populations in areas where it was once common, like India.