�2 Rites performed in honour of the Pitrs. �2 Rites which enable the soul of the dead to transit successfully from the stage of a ghost (preta) to the realm of the ancestors, the Pitrs and �2 Rites which accompany the cremation of the dead body �2 The rituals and rites to be performed when the person is believed to be on the death bed These rites may differ depending on the social group and the status of the deceased person.Hindu funeral rites are generally divided into four stages: Religious texts of such rites are available, particularly in the Garuda Purana. It is an important Sansakara or, sacrament of Hindu society. Today there is a complete turnaround of public opinion which spoke about 'Hindus barbecuing the dead.' Obituary notices in newspapers speak of 'cremation according to Christian rites.'Antyesti are the Hindu funeral rites, also referred to as Antim Sanskar. In addition to the public open pyre cremation sites, funeral agencies have established mechanical cremation facilities at most major population centres.The capital city of Port-of-Spain has a number of these cremation facilities, and so have Tacarigua, Arima and San Fernando. Most Hindus prefer the open air cremation pyre. It is now part of our history that a mechanical cremator was flown in from Miami so that the man who himself held the Hindu community in contempt, could be cremated as every Hindu hoped to be after death.Today, there are local government-controlled and managed open pyre cremation sites on the bank of the Caroni River, at the Felicity River, the Waterloo Cremation site, Mosquito Creek and Mafeking Cremation site in Rio Claro. Some historians suggest that the average mortality rate was in the middle thirties.Although our ancestors died at an early age through malnutrition and disease, Hindus were not provided a legal opportunity for the traditional disposal of their dead until after Independence from colonial rule.Īnd even then, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha had to wage a public campaign to ensure that we were able to dispose of the dead according to ancient rites and rituals.When the first Prime Minister of T&T, Dr Eric Williams died on Mahe had left instructions that he be cremated and his ashes thrown in the Gulf of Paria.But because of the anti-Hindu posture of the public and the state, there was no mechanical cremator to dispose of Dr Eric Williams' corpse. On this first journey to Trinidad, many of our ancestors died and were buried at sea.The fortunate 240-plus, when they arrived at Port-of-Spain were quarantined at Chacachacare, one of the islands on the north-west coast.Among the 240-plus Indian arrivals, the overwhelming majority were Hindus.No educational opportunities were provided for them or their children and neither were proper health and nutrition. The arrival of Indians to Trinidad first occurred on May 30, 1845.The now famous sailing ship, the SS Fatel Rozack took three months to journey from Howrah in Calcutta, travelling south, then around the tip of southern India, across the Indian Ocean to the southern tip of Africa.Our ancients described the journey from the southern tip of Africa across the Atlantic as 'Crossing the Kala Pani,' (crossing the black and dangerous water).

Pyre cremation