[nukkad] Ash Immersion At UK River Gains Popularity

["P Kumar Gok,RRd" <>]

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Jai Sri KrishnaAsh Immersion At UK River Gains Popularity
www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk

ENGLAND, March 4, 2006: More than 30 funerals a week are being carried out on 
the River Soar after it was blessed with water from the sacred Ganges. Families 
from America, Italy, Germany and France are now coming to Barrow-upon-Soar for 
the ritual scattering of ashes of loved ones. The practice is traditional for 
Hindus, Sikhs and Jains who are using the Soar as an alternative to the Ganges 
in India. Community leaders have now called for a temple or shrine on the banks 
of the river. Frank Reeves, of Barrow Boating, has a special funeral boat to 
carry out the services. It is decorated with pictures of the Indian Gods, such 
as Lord Ganesh, traditional religious colours and has a sound system to play 
appropriate funeral music. He said: "The interest has been incredible. In our 
busiest weeks, we are doing up to 30 services and we are getting a lot of 
international interest. "The special boat just seemed like a natural idea to 
improve the experience for the families. We can get a funeral party of 12 on 
and we can make sure it looks exactly as the family want it. We have a few 
elephant models as they are sacred animals. It's really up to the individual 
families. "We've talked with the priests who come for the funerals and they 
have told us what is appropriate." Mr. Reeves said he is getting more and more 
inquiries from Christian families looking to hold a river funeral. Charnwood 
borough councillor Amrat Bava, of Loughborough, said: "In Hinduism, many people 
have a last wish to have their ashes scattered in the holy rivers in India but 
that is not always possible, so I am not surprised he is doing well. "What is 
really important is that flowing water is used, which takes people to the 
ocean. Many Hindus consider all flowing water to be connected. "I think this is 
popular because it has been properly sanctioned by the water authorities." 
Vijay Lambachia, secretary of Loughborough's Shree Ram Krishna Temple, said: 
"In India, many of the crematoria are on the side of the rivers so ashes can be 
directly scattered. I would perhaps like to see a small temple or shrine on the 
banks of the Soar so we could do that here. If we could find the land it is 
something I would think the Hindu community would pay for." The idea of 
scattering ashes in the Soar caused controversy when it was first suggested 
with critics claiming it could pollute the waters. T he practice was 
investigated by the Environment Agency which concluded it was safe, provided 
only organic material entered the waterway.


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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most 
amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. 
-Edward Abbey, naturalist and author (1927-1989)
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