Cremation in India

Re “A final rite’s toll on the living,” Sept. 3

This article refers to the practice prevalent at Varanasi, India, that is very sacred to Hindus. Hindus, if they can, wish to die at Varanasi, and traditional practice is cremation with wood fire, or better with cow-dung cakes. In many urban areas, such as Bangalore and other big cities, the municipal authorities have installed electric crematoriums, which are clean and hygienic, and the cost is nominal. In Bangalore, the charge is a little more than a dollar. It takes about two hours to incinerate a body. The Bangalore municipality also provides hearse facilities. In the rural areas where the majority live and modern facilities are not available, wood or cow-dung cakes are the available method.

H.N. Ramakrishna

Bangalore, India