ANCIENT FUNERAL RITES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 179, 1 August 1932, Page 12

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 Parsecs were laid before the holy flame of his religion, and then interred near London iast month. The scene was so charged with the atmosphere of the East that it was difficult to believe that it was being enacted at Brookwood, and not several thousand miles away.

Many of the most distinguished Parsees in England 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 had raised an imposing mausoleum over her grave at Brookwood. 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 Parsec funerals ever take place in Britain, and Brookwood contains their only burial ground. When the funeral procession started toward the •■hapel dedicated to their faith two Parsec priests headed it, dressed in their white caps and robes. Inside 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 p aces on benches on either side of the casket, which was strewn w'ith flowers. The priests began to intone the prayers for the dead, in which they were joined by Dr. J. S. Vakil, secretary of the Parsec Association. Sandalwould was thrown on to the flame, and, as the smoke rose from the bowl, the mourners rose from their places, advanced to the bier, and made final obeisances to the dead. The prayers wore recited in the ancient Zend language, in which the A vesta, consisting of the original documents of the religion of Zoroaster, is written. The procession then passed from the chapel to the mausoleum, where the casket, which is an exact replica of the one made for Lady Tata, was lowered into the 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. Sha purji Saklatva’a, the former Comniu nist M.P. for North‘Battersea, a cousin of Sir Dorabji, who had been his com panion in his prospecting work among the jungles of the Central Provinces. Another notable figure was Mr. V. J. Patel, the ex-president of the Indian Legislative Assembly. The Maharaja of Burdwan was also present. Shift that cold! It’s simple with “NAZOL”—the powerful, penetrating remedy which acts at the points of infection giving prompt relief. 120 doses for 2/6; 60 doses for 1/6.* WOODS’ GREAT PEPPERMINT ?URE —First aid for Onghs, Colds, Influenza*