Ratan Tata Funeral: Ratan Tata’s last journey, instead of the Parsis’ Dokhmenashini, the last rites will be like this

Ratan Tata Funeral: Tata Group Honorary Chairman and veteran industrialist Ratan Tata passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at around 11:30 pm. He breathed his last at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Ratan ji was 86 years old.

Ratan Tata belonged to the Parsi community. But according to sources, it is being said that his last rites will be performed in the cremation ground of Worli instead of following the customs of the Parsi community. His mortal remains will be brought to the Parsi cremation ground in Worli. Here the dead body will be kept in the prayer hall and prayers will be held for about 45 minutes. Geh-Sarnu will be read in the prayer in Parsi style. After this, the first chapter of Ahanaveti will be read by placing a piece of cloth in the mouth of the dead body. This is a process of peace prayer of Parsis. After this, the process of cremation will be completed by placing the dead body in the electric crematorium.

In such a situation, the Dokhmenashini tradition of Parsis will not be followed in the funeral of Ratan Tata. The funeral process among Parsis is different from other communities. Let us know how the Dokhmenashini tradition happens after death among Parsis.

How is the last rites of Parsis performed?

In the Parsi community, the process of cremating the dead body after death is called Dokhma. Among Parsis, after death, the dead body is neither burnt, nor buried, nor is it washed away. Instead of following all these rules, in Zoroastrianism, the dead body is kept under the sky in a traditional cemetery called the Tower of Silence or Dakhma, and vultures come and eat the dead body.

This tradition of funeral rites of Parsis is about three thousand years old. The process of funeral performed according to this tradition is considered a symbol of purity and sanctity for Parsis. Regarding this tradition, Parsis believe that the human body is a gift of nature and after death it should be returned to nature. But gradually people are abandoning this tradition.

Why is the Dokhmenashini tradition of Parsis becoming extinct?

The number of Parsi community in the world is gradually decreasing. Due to the spread of the epidemic during the Corona period, there were changes in the methods of funeral rites. At that time the tradition of last rites of Parsis was also banned. At the same time, birds like eagles and vultures have also started almost disappearing in India. In such a situation, Parsis are finding it difficult to follow their old tradition i.e. Dokhmenashini for the last rites. This is the reason why Parsi families have now started performing the last rites of their relatives in Hindu crematoriums or electric crematoriums.

According to the information, Ratan Tata will be cremated as per Hindu customs. His last rites will be performed in electric crematorium. Earlier in 2022, the last rites of former Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry were also performed as per Hindu customs.

Also read: Ratan Tata Motivational Quotes: Even after Ratan Tata’s departure, these precious thoughts of his will be remembered, inspiration will continue