FUNERAL PYRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 211, 19 June 1933, Page 8

FUNERAL PYRE

CREAMATION OF BODY.

INDIANS AT TAUMARUNUI. The cremation of the body of an Indian woman, who died at Taumarunui, was carried out on a funeral pyre in the cemetery at Taumarunui last week. This was the first cremation of a body in the town (says the "Taumarunui Press"), and be ,;>coiid in the Taumarunui district. There was out about three years ago at Tatu, when an Indian boy died as the result of a rifle shot. On arrival at the cemetery a number of Indian friends assisted the husband of the deceased; (Mrs Udham Kaur Harman Singh) to build the pyre of matai logs, a. cord of firewood being used for the purpose. When the pyre, or "chitta," as the Indians call it, was half-built; the body was brought from the hearse and deposited on the logs. The body was wrapped in fine linen and covered over all with a beautiful red cover of flowered: silk. On the body was placed a floral wreath and bunches of flowers. The husband sprinkled a bottle of perfume over the covered body, and scattered "cardamum" seed and spices over the perfume. Then the attendants arranged 24 lib pats of butter around on the body, and the husband emptied 101 b of mixed nuts and 4lb of sultanas over the lot.

. The building of the pyre then proceeded, the logs being arranged in tiers over .the .body till it was practically hidden from view. In India it is the office of the garanthi (priest) to light the pyre, but, in the absence of a priest, the pyre was lighted by the husband, who used paper and dry scrub for the purpose, and before long the whole of the "chitta" *was burning fiercely. When the pyre was well alight Kaitar Singh, a friend of the husband, conducted a service in Hindustani. Interpreted, the message he had to convey was that everybody bad to come to the same place—dust to dust and ashes to ashes. He asked God to forgive the sins of deceased, and take her to the place the Indians called "Surgh" (heaven). At the close of the ■ service the speaker expressed the appreciation of the Indians for the presence and sympathy of'the townspeople. The husband also expressed his thanks to -Mr Manson, the public, the health officer, and others who 7iad helped him in his trouble. Mr Harman Singh is a Sikh, born in and his wife was from the same part of India, Mr Singh lias been a resident of New Zealand for the past 15 or 16 years, and has spent some years of his life at Ongarue, where he won great esteem from all who have had dealings with him. A few years ago he returned to India, and married Udham Kaur, the wife who has just died, at the age of 25 years. .About 18 months ago Singh again returned to India, and brought his wife to live with him at Ongarue. The deceasedJeaves her husband and a boy five years of age, and also a baby nine days old.

Amongst the mourners at tihe pyre were five Sikhs and several Indians. The building of the pyre and*? other arrangements for the eeremonv were carried out under the direction of Mr Akhter, of Taumarunui. Two friends of the husband waited by the pyre till nothing but ashes remained, and the full ceremonies connected with the Indian custom were carried cut.