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Zoroastrianism in Azerbaijan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zoroastrianism in Azerbaijan goes back to the first millennium BC, and for at least a thousand years remained the predominant religion in Azerbaijan. The name Azerbaijan means Land of The Eternal Fire, a name that is said to have a direct link with Zoroastrianism [1].
Today the religion, culture and traditions of Zoroastrianism remains highly respected in Azerbaijan, and Novruz continues to be the main holiday in the country. Zoroastrianism has left a deep history mark in the history of Azerbaijan. Traces of the religion are still visible in Surakhany, Khinalyg, and Yanar Dag.
Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest surviving religions. It was founded by the Iranian prophet Zarathustra on the steppes of Central Asia. The teachings of Zarathustra are preserved in his metrical Gathas, the oldest part of the sacred scripture known as the Avesta. The majority of Zoroastrians live in India, home to a community estimated at 100,000 followers. The next largest Zoroastrian community is to be found in Iran. It is believed to number 60,000. It is estimated that the Zoroastrian community of Azerbaijan numbers between 2,000 and 5,000 -- a number that continues to increase as many Iranian Zoroastrians migrate to Azerbaijan in search of religious tolerance.[citation needed]
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