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Hindu condemns UK law over funerals

by Suranee | March 24, 2009 at 08:19 pm

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The Cremation Act 1902 states where a crematorium site can be placed.

Site of crematorium
No crematorium shall be constructed nearer to any dwelling-house than two hundred yards, except with the consent, in writing of the owner, lessee and occupier of such house, nor within fifty yards of any public highway, nor in the consecrated part of the burial ground of any burial authority.

If Mr. Ghai allows his cremation to take place without breaking the laws as stated in the Cremation Act 1902, I'm sure Britain will allow an open-air pyre cemation to take place.

A devout Hindu fighting for the legal right to be cremated on an open-air funeral pyre has told the High Court laws stopping the religious ceremony were a breach of his human rights.

Davender Ghai described commonly used cremation facilities as "a mechanised humiliation of dignity - a waste disposal process devoid of spiritual significance".

The 70-year-old spiritual healer said "confining bodies in coffins and concealing the cremation process" did not reflect the philosophy and cultural values he lived by.

Mr Ghai, from Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is fighting for the legal right to be cremated on an open-air funeral pyre in "a sacrament of fire". If he is successful, the test case could provide a precedent for other Hindus and Sikhs seeking similar last rites.

This is not the first time Mr. Ghai has been trying to get Britain to allow Hindus to be able to be cremated in an "open-air funeral pyre." Last year his story appeared in an article in Timesonline which shows that he has been struggling for over a year or so to get Britain to allow this type of cremation to take place.

An attempt to establish the first approved site for the 4,000-year-old spiritual ceremony in northeast England was blocked last year after a local authority ruled that it would breach cremation laws.

The decision was challenged by Davender Kumar Ghai, a 68-year-old devout Hindu who is in poor health and is demanding the right, when he dies, to be cremated on an open-air pyre.

A High Court judge has now approved his bid to seek a judicial review of Newcastle City Council’s refusal to permit a funeral rite that Hindus regard as essential for the successful liberation of the soul.

I thought of following this story because it gives a glimpse into the initial stages of how the countries in West are faced with situations where they may or may not have to chance the laws that were enacted may years ago due to religious or other reasons that have been put forward to them by immigrants.

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israeli.agent

at 21:27 on March 24th, 2009

I completely agree with Paschen. Hinduism evolved throught ages. That is why it is still a living religion after so many setbacks. The day it stops evolving, it will be dead.

Hindus need not practise jurassic age rituals for the heck of it. If the country Hindus migrate have different laws , they Hindus need to look for a compromised situation. Hindus are not militants or terrorists. In a country like Britain, where religious freedom is allowed, there is no need to "condemn" the laws formed to protect the environment.

Whoever hellbend on "condemning" the laws, my humble advice is , please go to countries like Taliban infested Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria or the peace loving Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and sing the "condemn" song from there.

Please do not forget to write home afterward, ok? Don't forget.

.Agent.

jazzyzazzy

at 03:14 on March 25th, 2009

all different cultural value,s one world remember we all live under the same sky if that be the case the guys wish, as Esta says let it be, just dont throw the ashes in anyones face.and make sure its no near ma hoose.

Suranee

at 03:58 on March 25th, 2009

As long it's not a nuisance to anyone and as long as there are no laws broken , I don't see anything wrong with it. But it's up to the British authorities to make that decision but I do hope the British Hindus and British Sikhs will be allowed to cremate their departed loved ones in the way they wish to.

antidote (not verified)

at 23:55 on March 26th, 2009

I originally thought " whats the problem? Let them do what suits their religion!" but after a discussion, it was brought up that bodies take a certain heat to be reduced to ashes, Can this temperature be guaranteed in the open air? Also , the smell of animal carcasses , and the smoke given off ,were bad enough when many animals had to be burned due to disease. Could these problems be surmounted? Personally, I think that while so many religeous beliefs and traditions have been adhered to over thousands of years, the same people complaining about these laws, also make use of modern day inventions.I dont understand how people can choose not to use crematoriums. These were not invented when bibles and other religious books were written, so how could anyones God, or Gods, or whatever, be against them? The people who agree with open air cremations maybe aren't bothered by the smell of next doors barbeque every weekend during the summer either!