The Indian and global Parsi community is well-known, for its charity, philanthropy and support for good causes. The major industrialists like the Tata’s, Godrej and Dadabhai Navroji are among the most well-known Parsis. Parsis even though a minority, have enriched the Indian economy, even fighting in the independence movement with Mahatma Gandhi against the British Rule. Parsis thus settled and assimilated, blended in India like sugar in the milk. The King Jadhav Rana was so impressed with this gesture that he granted them asylum and welcomed them with gifts and helped them settle in the new land of India. The Parsis added sugar to the glass of milk.
The Zoroastrian priests immediately got the message and since they were peace loving religious people, they wanted to send back a message that they would make the land and community richer and more prosperous by their good values, knowledge and hard work.
The language of Indians and Persians was different, so to welcome the strangers and communicate that the land was already filled with people to the brim, he sent them a full glass of milk. The King Jadhav Rana, who was the ruler of the land and a good one. They landed in Sanjan a port in the Indian State of Gujarat. One of the oldest stories of Sugar and Milk in Parsis (Parsi / Parsee Zoroastrians) folklore, comes from the time when they came over from Persia (modern day land of Iraq and Iran and other countries) to save themselves and their religious faith. I would like to present to you the famous Story of Parsi immigration (into India) and their welcome with “Sugar in the Milk”. I would like to take you on a journey into the culture, and nuances of the Parsi Cuisine of India.