Cremation area near Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal

[Manfred M]

And now for something a touch goulish.

This is the cremation area for lower caste Nepalis adjacent to the Pashupatinath Temple, just outside Kathmandu, Nepal. The higher castes are cremated in a smaller area just to the right of this image, much closer to the temple.

There are nine platforms and each cremation takes around five hours. After the body has been burnt, the ashes are put into the Bagmati River, which is in the foreground. The Bagmati is considered to be a holy river by both the Hindus and Buddhists.




The one thing that really struck us in both Nepal and India, is that the holy sites seemed to be especially dirty.

[Donald]

And now for something a touch goulish.

No, I don't think so at all. A fine image showing respect for people and their ceremonies related to death and dealing with bodies.

In our western culture we have much more of a problem with death than in many other cultures. We have to hide the body away in a box and then, in the case of cremation, we hide the box from view at the moment of it going for that cremation.

I don't criticise, merely observe that western practices are different.

[Manfred M]

No, I don't think so at all. A fine image showing respect for people and their ceremonies related to death and dealing with bodies.

In our western culture we have much more of a problem with death than in many other cultures. We have to hide the body away in a box and then, in the case of cremation, we hide the box from view at the moment of it going for that cremation.

I don't criticise, merely observe that western practices are different.

I agree Donald. We witnessed a good half-dozen or so funerals / funeral processions whilst in these countries. Much more open and matter of fact than what we do in the west.

On the other hand, perhaps this shot is a bit more macabre. Here the boys are in the river looking for gold, from teeth of people that were cremated. This is the area where the ashes from the cremations from the higher castes are thrown into the river.

[Shadowman]

The black and white version tones done the grittiness of the area. Nicely captured.

[bnnrcn]

B&W suits the image very well indeed

[Mike Buckley]

Nice capture of the entire scene!

On the subject of how different cultures deal with death, consider the funerals and annual observance of the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mexico and other Latin American areas. There is very much a party atmosphere with lots of laughter and uplifting music; very different from the comparatively somber observances in most of North America.

[Acorn]

Funeral requiems held in Orthodox churches in the UK are usually conducted with the coffin lid off.

[pschlute]

Aha, I appear to have liked two posts from the past. Still a great picture Manfred