CREMATED ON RIVER BANK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 10

CREMATED ON RIVER BANK

Indian Funeral Ceremony PYRE IGNITED BY SON OF DEAD HINDU Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, February 28. The body of Kehar Singh, who was killed in a landslide at Okirae on Wednesday, was cremated according to Indian custom on the banks of the Wangaehu River this morning in the presence of a small gathering of Indians, Maoris and Europeans, including the inspector of health. The .body was cremated according to Indian custom on a pyre on the banks of the Wangaehu River. The ceremony was the first of its kind in the district, The body was brought a distance of about half a mile on a bier of green willow. It was swathed in a white shroud and was placed on the pyre, which was about seven feet high. ’ The mourners then distributed flowers, various foodstuffs, spices, including almonds, rice and raisins on the bier, over which the contents of a box of butter were also distributed. An amount of firewood, equal to that forming the bottom half of the pyre, was then placed on top of the body, after which the Indian chaplain read the burial service. A few bottles of kerosene were then poured over the pyre, deceased’s son setting a light to it with a match.

The cremation took about two hours, On Sunday the ashes will be collected, brought to Wanganui, and scattered on the sea, although it is customary in India to scatter the ashes of this kind on the waters of sacred rivers. \ This had to be refused on account of the fact that tne waters in this part are regarded as tapu by the Maoris. ,