One group of Zoroastrians fled from Greater Khorasan to the west coast of India in order to preserve their religious customs and beliefs.

In the 18th century, a decision was made to return the flame to Sanjan, but along the way, the priests preferred to remain in Udvada, where the fire temple was consecrated in 1742.

It had been so-called because it was consecrated to be the earthly representative of Yazdegerd III, the last Zoroastrian king of Iran, this explanation is accepted by almost all devout Parsis, and even the few sceptics among them tend to refer to the fire as the Iranshah.

In 1998, Sarosh Bana, executive editor with Business India, approached the then Gujarat government to declare Udvada village a ‘Heritage Precinct’.

Bana organised a pictorial and architectural assessment of the village and set up a pilgrimage boarding facility and a museum showcasing the history of the Parsis and Udvada.

In the Zoroastrian calendar, that day is dedicated to the divinity Verethragna (Avestan, Middle Persian Waharam, hence Behram), hypostasis of victory.

According to tradition and later as a result of the legal verdict, nine priestly families of Sanjan and their heirs are the sole lawful guardians of the fire and its temple.

Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla, a highly respected theologian of the time, was called upon to intervene, and the issue was settled after over 25 years of discord.

The Mumbai-based Save Udvada Committee, supported by the Indian and Gujarat state governments, is engaged in combating sea-driven erosion.

The typical Parsi homes here with their high ceilings, sloped roofs with ornamental skirting, and double otlas (porches) are over a century old, and considered worth preserving.