What is the place of worship for the followers of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Iran?

Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest continuously-practiced religions, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. Followers are also called as Parsees. Zoroastrianism exalts benevolent deity of wisdom known as Athura Mazda ( Persian romanized word, lit. "Wise Lord) as its supreme being. Fire temples are places of worship in Zoroastrian religion. They were known as 'ataskada' ("House of Fire") by the Persians but are best known today by their Greek name 'pyratheia' (fire temple). They are thought to have originated from the practice of keeping hearth fire burning throughout the life of the head of a household. This tradition developed into the ever-burning flame kept alive in honour of and symbolising the divine in a place of worship.

After the fall of Sassanian Empire (224-651 CE) in Iran to the Muslim Arab Invasion of 651 CE, fire temples were destroyed or turned into mosques. Zoroastrians are said to have kept some of the flames from these temples burning in secret, and these were used to light the fires in later temples by the Parsees of India who preserved the Zoroastrian traditions and established fire temples.

In present day, these fires continue to burn in temples in Iran, India and elsewhere around the world by Zoroastrian communities. As of 2021, there are 167 fire temples in the world of which 45 are in Mumbai, India, and 17 in other countries. Of these 9 (1 in Iran and 8 in India) are the main temples.