Establishing modern crematoriums in Punjab for dignified farewells | Amritsar News
AMRITSAR: To give a dignified, respectful, and elegant farewell to their loved ones, an organization here has proposed to establish state-of-the-art electric crematoriums in the cities and villages of Punjab, designed to honor the quality of life the deceased lived and to ensure the highest standards, for the purpose, the representatives are being sent abroad to study the best practices of Punjabi crematoriums following which a fundraising campaign will be launched, inviting contributions from both the local residents and Punjabis living abroad to support the initiative.
“We often spend lavishly on weddings, birthday parties, religious ceremonies, and travel, and when it comes to our final journey, our loved ones are compelled to take us to outdated crematoriums and even the electronic crematoriums fall short of the basic standards”, said Simerpreet Sandhu, founding chairperson of Ott Transformative Trust.
She observed that these crematoriums often have poor facilities, such as lack cleanliness, with garbage littering the floors, and ‘samagri’ (ritual materials ) scattered around which adds to a generally unhygienic environment.
She further said that the lack of satisfactory amenities, such as proper bathing facilities before ceremonies, unclean water for rituals, and an overall unpleasant atmosphere, leaves mourners with a disheartening experience.
The condition in the village crematoriums is worse. Quoting a visit of the Trust’s team in villages to collect the data and gather inputs, she said that in the villages Trust’s team found the so called crematoriums in a very poor condition, which even doesnt’ have the basic infrastructure leave alone cleanliness.
The cremation process in these villages is deeply distressing. The body is placed on a platform, though sometimes it is not, and is supported by rods to hold it in place during the cremation. The pyre is set alight, but the overall environment is often unsanitary.
One of the team members of the Trust informed that they observed stray dogs scavenging around the remains when mourners return to collect ashes and bones which adds to the disheartening experience.
Simerpreet said that she has inquired with Punjabis living abroad about the electric crematoriums there. To further understand and study these practices, she said she will be traveling to Canada.
“During my visit, I intends to persuade the Punjabi community to collaborate with us and launch a fundraising campaign aimed at establishing state-of-the-art electric crematoriums in the cities, with a few in villages in Punjab” said she adding that many Punjabis own land that they could donate for this cause, and the Trust will also approach the government for taking land, which could be from 4 to 5 acres, and begin the project soon.
