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Christianity
Indian Christians, according to an estimate, now number nearly 25 million.
Another version declares Saint Bartholomew as the first Christian missionary in India.
Anyway, regardless of who came first, India has a distinct Christian community comprising of Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Scientologists and just about any other sect of Christianity.
Zoroastrianism (Parsis)
Parsis are the descendants of Persians who fled to India after the Arab conquest of Iran in the eighth century. They brought Zoroastrianism to India with them and settled down in western India.
Most Parsis live in Gujarat and Maharashtra, worship Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) who is eternally in conflict with the evil Ahriman, and have adopted Gujarati as their language. Their places of worship are called Fire Temples, where a flame is always kept burning. Parsis tend to be very insular as a community. They do not marry outsiders, nor do they allow people of other religion into their temples.
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