Forum Topic

Open air public cremations

Should Hindus win the right to have open air public cremations and each local authority be required to provide a facility for that purpose, where precisely should the London Borough of Hounslow choose as it’s site?

Harley Buckner ● 5967d19 Comments

I shouldn't lose any sleep over this - I would think it is extremely unilkely to happen in this country, it's just some patronising, middle-class PC pillock chattering on. After all we have had people of many faiths here for donkey's years who haven't made a clamour for changing things from the norm.

Vanessa Smith ● 5963d

Zoroastrians believe that dogs are holy, in part because of their "waste disposal" role - plenty of dogs round here! And their Red cousins!

Stella Hawkins ● 5963d

Odinists might like the idea too. I'm wondering though if we might have to buy carbon credits or somesuch in the future, in order to cover the amount of wood burned!

Bryan Betts ● 5963d

"I also think there's no reason why Parsees and Zoroastrians shouldn't be allowed their Towers of Silence"The local shortage of vultures - of the feathered variety, at least - might be an issue here!

Bryan Betts ● 5963d

Fran;  I'm sorry for your loss but I think you are being e touch to sensitive, I have buried my parents and a brother, two other brothers have been cremated and a third will be on the 10th Feb at 2.30pm. People die! life however goes on.

Philip Walsh ● 5964d

I'll reserve you a drawer in my freezer, if you could become a practicing contortionist now however it'd make it a lot easier when the time comes! :p "scuse me Vanessa, just need to squeeze past you to get my potato waffles out."I hear ash from organic matter is very good for your garden..

Stephanie Kitsune ● 5966d

Can this topic stop being so flippant please.  My son died and was cremated so I find these postings rather offensive and rather upsetting.Thankyou.

Fran Naughton ● 5966d

Can this topic stop being so flippant please.  My son died and was cremated so I find these postings rather offensive and rather upsetting.Thankyou.

Fran Naughton ● 5966d

Well I have always favoured being frozen - just in case they come up with a cure for whatever brings about my demise. Being put in with the frozen prawns in Iceland would suit me, however, I can see the objections now!

Vanessa Smith ● 5966d

Message removed at author's request

Simon Groves ● 5966d

lol, I subscribe very much to the idea that I don't care what happens to me when I die, because I won't be able to, because I'll be dead. Dish all my organs out then donate whatever's left to medical science!The air pollution issue doesn't really hold fast while we're all driving around in our cars and living off electricity from coal-fired power stations, so if somebody else wants a funeral pyre then let them have a funeral pyre I say, makes no odds to me... Can anybody else smell bacon...? ;)

Stephanie Kitsune ● 5966d

God, this is turning out to be a real cheery thread!

Vanessa Smith ● 5966d

Yes they should - you could deal with the Health and Safety issues the same way you'd deal with any large bonfire.  In addition, the environment argument may cut both ways - some would argue that fires are more eco friendly than landfill, and cemetaries represent land which could be used for agriculture or horticulture.  I also think there's no reason why Parsees and Zoroastrians shouldn't be allowed their Towers of Silence, which must be the most ecological form of "burial".

Stella Hawkins ● 5966d

Well I thought the environmental health aspect might come into it but I don't know. They burnt all those foot and mouth animals on big bonfires, I imagine hundreds of 'diseased' (or not as the case so often was, but that's another story) sheep at a time is probably more of a health and safety risk than one dead human. But that's just my opinion..

Stephanie Kitsune ● 5966d

I suspect there would be all sorts of Health & Safety implications not to mention Environmental Health concerns.

Vanessa Smith ● 5966d

I suspect the reason lies with the word Hindu, lets hope druids can do the same.Not sure how well it would fit in a smokeless zone though and the smell would not be to pleasant, I believe the crematorium has filters.

Philip Walsh ● 5966d

Why would that be a problem?I expect it'd be outside the crematorium.

Stephanie Kitsune ● 5967d

why is this a question?

Simon Groves ● 5967d