This Is The Reason Behind Why Ratan Tata Was Not Given A Parsi Funeral

On October 10, people from all the categories , including famous personalities and citizens, came together to pay their final respects to Ratan Tata, one of India’s most esteemed industrialists. His funeral took place shortly after that . Although he was part of the Parsi community, his funeral was not held at The Towers of Silence. This brought up a question: Why Ratan Tata didn't have a Parsi funeral ?

The funeral in Worli reflects a big change and evolution in the Parsi community, with more people opting for cremation instead of the traditional practice of placing their ' loved ones’ remains in the Tower of Silence.

ALL ABOUT LATE RATAN TATA'S FUNERAL

His body was taken from the hospital on Thursday in an ambulance, escorted by police vehicles, and transported to his home in Colaba.

The body was transported from his home to the NCPA in South Mumbai in a hearse adorned with white flowers, where it was placed for guests to pay their last respects. People from every category gathered together to bid farewell.

At a prayer meeting at the NCPA, priests from Parsi, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Hindu faiths came together to offer prayers, creating a powerful tribute that transcended cultural and religious boundaries. Videos of this heartfelt gathering have been widely shared online, with many praising the industrialist as a "true icon of India."

The final rites were conducted through cremation, differing from the traditional Parsi practice of sky burials. The ceremony took place at Mumbai's Worli Crematorium, which has two electric incinerators.

For the final rites, the body was wrapped in white which symbolizes purity. It was placed in the Prayer Hall, where prayers were offered.The body was then taken to the electric crematorium for the final rites.

THIS IS HOW ACTUALLY PARSI FUNERALS TAKE PLACE

The Parsis perform several ceremonies as part of their final rituals to lay the dead to rest.These ceremonies are centered on spiritual purity and the cycle of life and aim to honor and respect the deceased.

1. Three Step Preparation 

Separation: The deceased is kept in a separate room so that the spiritual purity is maintained 

Purification: Spiritual purification is done through cleaning oneself

Clothing: The deceased is then draped in white cloth which symbolises purity.

2. Sacred Rituals

Sagdid (viewing): Family and friends pay respects.

Navjote (initiation): Prayers are recited to reconnect the soul to divine forces.

Vendidad (purification): Rituals are performed to cleanse the soul.

Yasna (worship): Offerings to Ahura Mazda (the supreme deity) are done.

3. Post-funeral rituals:

Uthamna :

It is a four day ceremony where prayers  are held for the departed soul and offerings are made in his/her remembrance.

Chhahum: 

It's a forty-day ceremony which commemorates the soul’s journey.

Annual memorials:

This is meant for honouring the loved ones.

"From nature we come, and to nature we return." This is the core belief behind the Parsis funeral tradition which reflects a deep respect for nature and the cycle of life.

While Hindus cremate their dead, and Islam and Christianity practice burial, Zoroastrians view natural elements as sacred. They believe that cremating the body on firewood would disrespect or pollute the purity of fire.

Traditionally, Parsis place their dead in "Towers of Silence," also known as Dakhmas. These are open-air structures where bodies are exposed to the sun and birds like vultures. The vultures consume the flesh, and the bones eventually fall into a central well in the tower, where they slowly decompose.

Dokhmenashini is a practice that allows the body to return to nature without contaminating the sacred elements of fire, earth, or water.

Towers of Silence can be found in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and several towns and cities in Gujarat.