Last rites to be conducted in Parsi rituals…
On Wednesday, Ratan Tata, the 86-year-old businessman and the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group, died at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital.
He will be given a state funeral by the Maharashtra government and being a Parsi, his last rites will be conducted according to the rituals followed by his community.
Parsis do not cremate or bury their loved ones. According to Zoroastrian beliefs, cremation or burying would contaminate the elements of nature - water, air, and fire.
In the early hours of the day, the body is prepared for the funeral rites. The body is washed and dressed in traditional Parsi attire by the Nassesalars, who are specialized pallbearers responsible for handling the remains.
www.thetimesnation.com/ratan-tata-global-business-icon-dies-at-86
The body is then wrapped in a white shroud, known as the 'sudreh' (cotton vest) and 'kusti', a sacred cord that is worn around the waist.
Before the body is taken to the final resting place, prayers are performed by the Parsi priests.
These rituals are designed to help the deceased soul to transition smoothly into the afterlife. The family and close relatives gather to pay their respects and participate in these prayers.
Traditionally, the body would be taken to the Tower of Silence, or 'Dakhma', a structure specifically designed for Parsi funerals.
The body is placed atop the 'Dakhma', where it will be exposed to the elements and scavenger birds, typically vultures.
Edited By: Tanvi Walia
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