INDIAN FUNERAL PYRE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 10

INDIAN FUNERAL PYRE

CREMATION AT TAUMARUNUI. FLORAL WREATH ON BODY. The hotly of an Indian woman who died at Tauniarunui was cremated on a funeral pvre in the cemetery at Tauma.ritnui last week. The cremation was the first in the town and only the second in the Tauniarunui district, the previous one being that of an Indian boy at Taru, who died as the result of a rifle shot about three years ago. Oil arrival at the cemetery a number of Indian friends assisted the husband ox'the deceased .to build the pyre of matai logs, a cord of firewood being used for the purpose. When* the pyre 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 o.f perfume over the covered body, and scattered <£cardamum” seed aim spices over the perfume. Then, the attendants arranged 24 one pound pats of butter around and on the body, and the husband emptied 101 b oi mixed n.iis ■;:.u 4lb. of sultanas over it all. The bii.U'ng of the pyre then proceeded, thj J* g«s being arranged in tiers over the body until it was practically I hidden from \ ;w. In India it is the j office of the pnranthi (priest) to light I the pyre, but, in tire absence of a priest, the pyre was lighted by the ’husband. I When the pyre was well alight, Kaitar Singh, a friend of the husband, con-) ducted a" service in Hindustani. Inter-) prated, the message he had to convey i was that everybody had to come to the! same place—dust to dust and ashes to j ashes. He. asked God to fotrgive the sins of deceased and take her to the place the Indians called £ ‘ Surgh” (Heaven). Among the mourners at the pyre were five Sikh t Two friends of the husband waited by the pyre until nothing but! ashes remained and the full ceremonies I connected. w'th the Indian custom were carried out. *