Book Review “ Death ends life, not a relationship ,” as Mitch Albom put it. That is why, we have so many rituals associated with death. Minakshi Dewan’s book, The Final Farewell [HarperCollins, 2023], is a well-researched book about those rituals. The book starts with an elaborate description of the Sikh rituals associated with death and cremation, before moving on to Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and finally Hinduism. After that, it’s all about the various traditions and related details of Hindu final rites. A few chapters are dedicated to the problems of widows in India, gender discrimination in the last rites, and the problem of unclaimed dead bodies. There is a chapter titled ‘Grieving Widows in Hindi Cinema’ too. Death and its rituals form an unusual theme for a book. Frankly, I don’t find the topic stimulating in any way. Obviously, I didn’t buy this book. It came to me as quite many other books do – for reasons of their own. I read the book finally, having shelv
Wooohhhh!!!! Nice pic... Where is the pic taken?
ReplyDeleteA village in Kerala.
DeleteHope this remains...Btw, is the one behind the banana leaves a Cocoa?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's cocoa.
DeleteBeautiful! Awesome capture!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bushra... Glad you liked it.
DeleteLanes become insignificant when we try to reach heaven. Nice take.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a narrow path leading to a stream...
DeleteBeautiful and truly luxuriant, reminds me of my village.
ReplyDeleteSo much beauty in the countryside, isn't it? Nice to know you liked this.
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteGreen and peaceful.
Indeed... thanks.
DeleteThere must be some danger somewhere ...
ReplyDeleteRE
No danger, Raghuram. The path is used just once a day or so when the owner goes to pump water from the river to which the path goes.
DeleteI wonder, why would you even come back.
ReplyDeleteCertain compulsions, Sid.
DeleteWonderful shot of nature.
ReplyDeleteYes, Rajesh. Thanks.
Deletenice capture. Where is this?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely private property in a village in Kerala.
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