The Funeral

It was really interesting to witness the whole ceremony of the man that died. He was laid out on a bed of palm leaves and had a canopy above him. There were chairs placed around the body. People would just sit and look at his body and weep while drums were played loudly outside there property. In the morning men began preparing the bed of wood in which the body would then be placed on. The man had been bathed, dressed in white, his hair combed and surround by beautiful flowers. Later in the day the man was placed on the bed of wood and driven to the electric cemetery (crematory) where his body was then returned to ashes. The drummers beat the drums and flowers trailed behind the cart as the procession made its way to the crematory. Today the family will be gathering some of the ashes and throw them to the sea. A very interesting cultural experience but yet so sad to witness the harshness the people of India deal with every day.