ANCIENT FUNERAL RITES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

ANCIENT FUNERAL RITES

PARSEE CEREMONIAL INTERMENT NEAR LONDON IMPRESSIVE RITUAL With simple but impressive ceremonial, the remains of one of the world s most famous Parsees were laid before the holy flame of his religion, and then interred jiear London last month, lhe scene was so charged with the atmosphere of the East that it was difficult to believe that it was being enacted at Brookwood, aud not several thousand miles away. Many of the most distinguished Parsees in Englahd came to do reverence to Sir Dorabji Tata, the great Indian industrialist and philanthropist, who died in Germany on June 3, and whose ashes had been taken to England to be buried beside his wife. It was/almost exactly a year since the death of Lady Tata, and Sir Dorabji liad raised an imposing mausoleum over lier grave at Brookwpod. He had been planning to visit it on the anniversary of her death, but, before it was even completed, his own remains were lowered into the same grave. « Few Parsee funerals ever take place in Britain, and Brookwood contains their only bui/ial ground. When the funeral procession started toward the chapel dedicated to their faith two Parsee priests headed it, dressed in their white caps and f ° In side /the chapel the holy fire had been kindled in a silver bowl. Frankincense was smouldering in vases round the small room, and the family mourners ' took their places on benches on either side of the casket, which was strewn with flowers. Tho priests began to intone the prayers for the dead, in which they were joined by Dr. J. S. Vakil, secretary of the Parsee Association. Sandalwood was thrown on to?the flame, and, as the smoke rose from tho silver bowl, the men mere "rose from their places, advanced to the bier, and made final obeisances to the dead. The prayers were recited in tho ancient Zend language, in which the Avesta, consisting of tho original documents of the religion of Zoroaster, is written. The procession then passed from the chapel to' tho mausoleum, where the casket, which is an exact replica of the one made for Lady Tata, was lowered into ill,, grave: The priests intoned a further prayer, the mourners threw flowers into the vault, and the brief ritual was over. . One of the mourners was Mr. Shapurji Saklatvala, the former Communist M.P* for North Battersea, a cousin of Sir Dorabji, who had been his companion in his prospecting work among the jungles of the Central Provinces. Another notable figure was Mr. V. J. Patel, the expresident of the Indian Legislative Assembly. 1/11e Maharaja of Burdwan was idso pre&cut*