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A Village Where Hindus Are Buried, Not Cremated

www.ibnlive.com

 

KENDRAPARA, ORISSA, INDIA, February 12, 2006: Some traditions become

so unique to a place that -- despite many generations passing between

them -- they die hard. In Orissa's Kendrapara's Rajkanika village,

there is an age-old and a unique tradition where Hindus are not

cremated but buried after death. In this remote village, nearly

200,000 Hindus do not cremate their dead, like Hindus elsewhere, but

bury them. And they have no clue why they follow this custom. " This

has been the tradition here. I do not know why we do it, but everyone

here does it, " Resident, Rajkanika, Snehalata Jena, says. In

Rajkanika, Hindus here prefer to build structures on the grave in

memory of their loved ones. Some say one of the kings of the state

had ordered that that cremation would be the exclusive right of the

royal family and the others would have to bury their dead. But

another school of thought believes the practice is a fallout of

natural calamities striking this region frequently. " This area is

inundated by flood for four months in a year. The people do not get

wood to cremate so they bury, " Local sarpanch, Amitabh Karan, says.

Whatever be the actual reason behind the practice - that sets them

apart from the customs followed by the community in the rest of the

country - the people here are continuing with this unique tradition.

 

 

 

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Jai Shree Krishna !