Friday, January 05, 2007

Strange practices in funerals

Loud beat of drums, merry dance by drunkards, bursting crackers ... these are common in Chennai funerals. Somehow I don't understand this custom. Why are people happy about the death. Are they feeling happy for the person to pass away from this sorrow filled world or are they relieved from the pain created by that person? :-)

Upon googling, I found that such funeral dances are practiced at different parts of the world like South Africa, China, Ancient Rome and Egypt. hmm, we have/had company.

Anyway, a recent news in the paper related to funeral was amusing. Villages of Eastern China have a belief that the more people who attend the funeral, the more the dead person is honoured. In order to achieve this target, the relatives try ingenious practices. They hired stripteasers!! Here is the video. Also, news at BBC News.

Later the parties were arrested and such practices are banned in that area.

Wondering how people interpret believes and twist the original thinking into drastic practice. If there had not been any law enforcement on this new approach, soon people would have assumed this as a local customs.

1 comment:

Ungal Nanban said...

I dont feel anything wrong on seeing the practices carried out during funerals.When a child is born, everybody is happy and celebrating it in a special way. Same should be carried out if somebody dies. Death is un-avoidable.

Of course the near and dear could not digest the matter. Let others participate in honouring the person. I still remember my grandpa's words, the way he wanted to be taken to graveyard happily.

I am sure that Indians will not cross their limits like chinese.