Cremation rituals in Kathmandu

[bixaorellana]

This is wonderfully interesting, Spindrift -- thank you!

How did you get that very long shot in Reply #6, first picture? It really helped me to put the descriptions and other pictures in perspective.

As a person not from that culture, I did find two things very disconcerting. One is that the body on the the bamboo stretcher looks so very much like what it is, and creates the doubt that the person is truly dead. Is there a ritual waiting period or something else to be absolutely sure the person is dead before cremation?

The other thing that surprised me was that the fire didn't look very efficient. I'd imagined it as a pyre that would burn so furiously that there would be no smoldering.

And of course one can't help but think about the smell.

[spindrift]

Bixa - I downloaded the first shot of the temple from the internet. And the second one. The rest are mine.

Yes, there is absolutely no attempt to hide the dead body. I do know that once a person has been declared 'dead' then that person must be cremated within 24 hours. I do not know how the state of death is determined. I also know that once the procession, carrying the dead person, is commenced, there is no turning back. Draw your own conclusions on this one !

It is the job of a specially designated person to keep the log fire burning until the corpse is thoroughly consumed. The fire is helped along by the addition at the start of ghee and no doubt this is added at certain intervals. Ghee is clarified butter.

I have never noticed a 'smell' but then I have never been close to the pyre. I do think that the sal logs burn very efficiently and hotly; after all, there is a need for speedy consumption since so many others might be waiting in the sidelines during that 24 hours; I do not know whether cremations take place at night.

[bixaorellana]

It does make sense health-wise for the body to be disposed of within 24 hours. I suppose the no turning back part is belief/tradition. And we can assume there might be special dispensation made if the star of the procession suddenly sat up, right?

Surely they've refined the process to an extremely efficient state after all these centuries.

Again, this is so very interesting and I'm most grateful that you shared the pictures and the explanations.

[tillystar]

So interesting, and how amazing to see such things first hand.

[spindrift]

It's mind-blowing to be sitting there quietly and observing the rituals. Meditation on death is a lesson in itself.

[gertie]

Thank you, Spindrift, very interesting. In some ways I would think more comforting. To see and touch and know your loved one has left the husk, so to speak.