1 Hindu Cremation My own son Sharad Anand 27 yrs

Leaders of Britain's Hindu community of more than 500,000 are asking to be given the same cultural and religious freedoms enjoyed by other major religions in the United Kingdom (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) when it comes to funerals - writes Trevor Grundy.

"We are asking for the right to cremate our dead in the way they have been cremated in India and other places for the last 4,000 years," 31-year old barrister Andrew Bogan said at the headquarters of the Anglo-Asian Friendship Society in Newcastle, north-east England.

He explained: "The way Hindus cremate the dead is at the heart of our religion. We've been running a campaign for the last six months and at least there are signs that we're getting somewhere."

London's Times newspaper has reported recently that Hindus may win the right to open-air cremations.

An attempt to establish the first approved site for the centuries old spiritual ceremonies in Northumberland, northern England, was blocked in 2006 after a local authority ruled made it would breach cremation laws.

But in September 2006 the decision was challenged by Davender Kumar Ghai, aged 68, who says he dreads the thought of a local authority cremation authorised by the Cremation Act of 1902.

"It is time for that to change," said Ghai, who has a UNESCO gold medal for peacekeeping and an Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement Award. "We have proved to be a model migrant community and we feel hurt that other groups are allowed to undertake their funeral rites while we are left out."

Hindu hopes have been raised by Justice Andrew Collins, head judge of the administrative court in the Queen's Bench Division who recently ruled that it is in the interest of the public to allow the legal application for Hindu cremations to go ahead.

"The issue is of some considerable importance to the Hindu community," declared Justice Collins.

The census of 2001 identified Hindus as Britain's third largest faith group after Christians, the largest, and Muslims.

The main issue about Hindu ceremonies in relation to the UK law concerns 'open air' rites. The details of the funeral ceremonies (antyeshti samskara), which form the last of the samskaras ('impressions'), vary according to Hindu tradition and place. Various rituals may take place around the dead body. These include the lighting of a lamp by the head of the body; pindas (rice balls) being placed in the coffin; water being sprinkled on the body; and a mala (necklace of wooden beads) and/or garlands of flowers being put around the dead person's neck.

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[dranandhindu]

Dear Sir/Madam

India is a genuinely secular country, though it was entirely Hindu before the Mughals, Alexander the Greedy, East India Company, Ghazni invaded us

We honour Jews, Zorastrians, Shias, Sunnis Buddhista, even women!!

[charlieiscool1000]

im sorry but this is wrong and illeagl in britian we do Not burn bodies outside in the open it has to be done in a creamtion pallar im shocked the goverment allowed this they brecnched the creamtion laws and say its ok for a one off if u want to burn your family body u must go to india and do it Not here im sorry but this isnt right in our coutryside

[Lebnaaan]

why do they say ram ram sattehe? and what does it mean

[DesiBollywoodFan123]

My condolences

[MinaMcKay]

Im very sorry for your loss. My cousin died at the same age.

[theoneandonlyolya]

@charlieiscool1000 the body was not burned in the open, it was cremated according to law and ashes were taken to india... watch again

[akeames]

My belated condolences on the loss of your son.

[davesundram]

i watched this for more then 10 times i guess!!!

Its very sad, Rest in peace sharad!!!

[smithbrain]

I feel so sorry for the father to have to see his son die. I also feel sorry for the son human beings have rights after death and for the body to be burnt like this is abusing its rights but then again its his religion so I can't say much. Out of curiosity how did this gentleman die?

[VAMPYBITES]

Why come to another country and pollute their waters and grounds! Ship the corpse back home add fry it there. You see how your waters look and smell ? You want respect for your beliefs, BUT you also have to RESPECT your adopted HOME! "WHEN IN ROME" If you don't like Rome,then GO HOME! And the same with MUSLIMS! Don't leave your country and then force your beliefs on others. You don't like seeing non Muslim woman not covered....then you need to go back to where you belong! Sorry for your loss.

[Mmaulin12]

May Lord Shiva give him refuge.

[ThepashtunNN1]

@dranandhindu you mean you were fucked by many nations hahaha indian are ,who were ruled by every one ,,you are slave by ur nature,and india is hole of shit