Comments on: The Public Display of Death in India http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/ Thoughts and Experiences of an Expat Living in India Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:40:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Sharell http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-8278 Sharell Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:52:40 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-8278 Cecy, it actually does make quite a bit of sense when you put it like that. When I think about it that way, viewing the dead body could be a really positive thing. I know when I go to funerals of loved ones I'm always caught up in memories of them when they were alive. Maybe if I'd seen their deceased body their funeral wouldn't be so difficult to deal with. Cecy, it actually does make quite a bit of sense when you put it like that. When I think about it that way, viewing the dead body could be a really positive thing. I know when I go to funerals of loved ones I’m always caught up in memories of them when they were alive. Maybe if I’d seen their deceased body their funeral wouldn’t be so difficult to deal with.

]]> By: Cécy http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-8277 Cécy Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:43:44 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-8277 When my grandfather died, I felt the need to see its body. I wash shocked and relieved at the same time, because that dead body was not him. The flesh, the shape of the face was not the same. It was just an empty body, a vessel. His spirit and my memories of him were somewhere else. While it was hard to realise he was truely gone, it was a relief to see the body that would be burried was not him... if that makes any sense. When my grandfather died, I felt the need to see its body. I wash shocked and relieved at the same time, because that dead body was not him. The flesh, the shape of the face was not the same. It was just an empty body, a vessel. His spirit and my memories of him were somewhere else. While it was hard to realise he was truely gone, it was a relief to see the body that would be burried was not him… if that makes any sense.

]]> By: Avinash Machado http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-2068 Avinash Machado Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:03:55 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-2068 It also depends on the person's religious beliefs. For example if you go to a Catholic funeral in India, it can be very similar to a Catholic funeral in the United States or Western Europe. Among Hindus who belong to the Lingayat caste, the body is buried in a seating position. So there are diverse funeral customs across India. It also depends on the person’s religious beliefs. For example if you go to a Catholic funeral in India, it can be very similar to a Catholic funeral in the United States or Western Europe. Among Hindus who belong to the Lingayat caste, the body is buried in a seating position.
So there are diverse funeral customs across India.

]]> By: mm http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-1987 mm Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:48:39 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-1987 Raju: That was hilarious! (and true) In Africa in the old days, dead bodies were simply left on the savannah for the lions to consume. This is very environmentally friendly since nothing gets wasted and no use of chemicals or preservatives is required. Raju:
That was hilarious! (and true)

In Africa in the old days, dead bodies were simply left on the savannah for the lions to consume. This is very environmentally friendly since nothing gets wasted and no use of chemicals or preservatives is required.

]]> By: Shyamsunder http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-1888 Shyamsunder Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:23:55 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-1888 This ties in with the word 'Pariah' In tamil language, Paray means announcer ( of death ) The death drummers and death dancers are from the Pariah caste and this work is believed to be bad karma, even though they get money for it In Varanasi, the Dom ( cremation caste ) extorts a lot of money about Rs.50,000 The Dom rajah is very rich, but the work is considered bad karma This ties in with the word ‘Pariah’

In tamil language,
Paray means announcer ( of death )

The death drummers and death dancers are from the Pariah caste
and this work is believed to be bad karma, even though they get money for it

In Varanasi, the Dom ( cremation caste ) extorts a lot of money
about Rs.50,000
The Dom rajah is very rich, but the work is considered bad karma

]]> By: dbals http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-1872 dbals Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:02:48 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-1872 After describing something gruesome I thought I will tell this. This was reported in newspapers sometime back. A family concluded that their old man had passed away after attempts to wake him up in the morning failed. The family were not surprised as it was something they were expecting. A ceremony was arranged quickly and by evening they were carrying the old man's body in a procession to grave yard with band music. Suddenly the dead man sits up confused asking where he was. And the whole party ran screaming dropping the old man. It seems the man had fainted earlier and woke up to the band music. And there were many instances where the relatives had gathered for death and had been crying next to the body, the dead person suddenly wakes up freaking every one out. Three reasons why these incidents happen: 1) People don't call doctor to confirm death. They just conclude if someone doesn't wake up he is dead 2) They are always expecting old people to die anytime 3) No one double checks after the first one concludes the person is dead and starts bawling. They just join them. After describing something gruesome I thought I will tell this. This was reported in newspapers sometime back.

A family concluded that their old man had passed away after attempts to wake him up in the morning failed. The family were not surprised as it was something they were expecting. A ceremony was arranged quickly and by evening they were carrying the old man’s body in a procession to grave yard with band music. Suddenly the dead man sits up confused asking where he was. And the whole party ran screaming dropping the old man. It seems the man had fainted earlier and woke up to the band music.

And there were many instances where the relatives had gathered for death and had been crying next to the body, the dead person suddenly wakes up freaking every one out.

Three reasons why these incidents happen: 1) People don’t call doctor to confirm death. They just conclude if someone doesn’t wake up he is dead 2) They are always expecting old people to die anytime 3) No one double checks after the first one concludes the person is dead and starts bawling. They just join them.

]]> By: Tenerezza http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-1839 Tenerezza Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:54:38 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-1839 Hi! I am from Europe. We actually put the body in the funeral parlor and everybody can say good-bye. Usually the coffin is open so that ppl can see the whole body. A twenty years ago the dead body was put on public display in the house. So everybody would come to the home and see the deceased. Nowadays, this practice is forbidden. (I guess the body would start to stink or something) Personally, I do not have a problem to see the body of a dead person. I have already seen a couple of them. Maybe if you are not used to it, it can be a little bit scary, but after all everybody is mortal. Hi! I am from Europe. We actually put the body in the funeral parlor and everybody can say good-bye. Usually the coffin is open so that ppl can see the whole body. A twenty years ago the dead body was put on public display in the house. So everybody would come to the home and see the deceased. Nowadays, this practice is forbidden. (I guess the body would start to stink or something)
Personally, I do not have a problem to see the body of a dead person. I have already seen a couple of them. Maybe if you are not used to it, it can be a little bit scary, but after all everybody is mortal.

]]> By: Sharell http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-1836 Sharell Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:28:22 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-1836 My God, it is gruesome and somewhat bizarre!! For once in my life, I'm thankful that I'm a woman, and will be spared from most of it. My God, it is gruesome and somewhat bizarre!! For once in my life, I’m thankful that I’m a woman, and will be spared from most of it.

]]> By: dbals http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-1835 dbals Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:28:53 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-1835 I don't know if you've observed the whole procession. You'll find a lots of shocking practices (I mean, Shocking for you). The body is carried publicly to the grave yard in a procession fashion where only men carry (on shoulders) and walk with the body and women are stop right at the street. From where I'm from, we also pay a bunch of street people to dance and play drums in front of the procession. Except for them everyone will be sad and these guys also get paid to get drunk before dancing. I don't remember the reason but that's how it is done. Also after the elder son/husband is lights the pyre, the body can suddenly sit up, freaking the hell out of people. This is because the muscles contract from the sudden heat. (Imagine this! Anyone standing next to the graveyard will get nightmares. Typically people are on their feet ready to run) The graveyard guy then hits the body with a stick to lay it down. Sorry if the details are too gruesome. I don’t know if you’ve observed the whole procession. You’ll find a lots of shocking practices (I mean, Shocking for you). The body is carried publicly to the grave yard in a procession fashion where only men carry (on shoulders) and walk with the body and women are stop right at the street. From where I’m from, we also pay a bunch of street people to dance and play drums in front of the procession. Except for them everyone will be sad and these guys also get paid to get drunk before dancing. I don’t remember the reason but that’s how it is done.

Also after the elder son/husband is lights the pyre, the body can suddenly sit up, freaking the hell out of people. This is because the muscles contract from the sudden heat. (Imagine this! Anyone standing next to the graveyard will get nightmares. Typically people are on their feet ready to run) The graveyard guy then hits the body with a stick to lay it down.
Sorry if the details are too gruesome.

]]> By: Sharell http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/08/the-public-display-of-death-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-1828 Sharell Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:40:51 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3165#comment-1828 Um... maybe we're learning from the past and trying to improve? Um… maybe we’re learning from the past and trying to improve?

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