|
|
|
|
|
 |
To
a Sikh, Birth and Death are closely associated,
because they are both part of the cycle
of Human Life, Ava Guvan, which is seen
as transient stage towards Nirvana, complete
unity with God. Death is a separation of
Soul from body and considered part of God’s
will. The Soul itself is not subject to
death. Death is only the progression of
the Soul on its journey from God, through
the created universe and back to God again.
Death
is generally seen as the truth of human
existence and a pre-destined fate. Public
displays of grief at a funeral, such as
wailing or crying aloud are discouraged
because a soul never dies. Sikhism does
believe in an afterlife, that the soul moves
on to meet the supreme soul, God (Akal Purkh).
|
|
|
|
Death
is not supposed to be a time for sadness and,
strictly speaking, a Sikh should not be despondent
when a loved one passes on, but instead should
sing Hymns in Praise of the Almighty in accordance
with the teachings of the Rahit Maryada (code
of conduct).
There are generally no constraints on location,
timing or methods of cremation; this normally
depends upon the family’s wishes. The death
ceremony may be split into two parts; Sanskar,
the cremation and the Antim Ardas, the final Prayer
at the end of the Bhog Ceremony .
Prior to Cremation, the body will be bathed and
dressed in fresh clothes complete with the Five
K’s (in the case of baptised Sikh). The bathing
of the body is usually done the night before the
funeral.
Usually the family will notify the friends and
relatives of the date and time of Cremation, although
the crematorium authorities can also advise people
of this information.
A prayer is said before the start of the funeral
to seek salvation for the departed soul.
Once the deceased reaches the crematorium, the
prayers Japji and (Kirtan Sohila), Bed –
Time Prayer is recited and Ardas, formal prayer
is offered.
The eldest son or a close relative generally performs
the cremation.
After cremation the ashes are to be scattered
in running water or the sea.
The second part is called Antim Ardas, the final
Prayer during the Bog Ceremony, Which includes
a complete reading of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji, either at home or in a Gurdwara. This is called
a Sahaj Path, and is usually completed within
ten days. The reading is meant to provide spiritual
support and consolation to the bereaved family
and friends.
Upon completion of the reading of the Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji, relatives and friends of the
family will gather together for the Bhog. Salokas
of the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur are read, and Ramkali
saad, the call of God, is recited. After the final
prayer, a random reading or Hukam is taken, and
karah Parshad is distributed to the Congregation.
Langar is served.
|
1)
Contacting The Funeral Home When A Death Occurs
|
| When
a death occurs in a hospital or care facility the
family should contact the funeral home to inform
the home that the death has taken place, however,
if the death has occurred at home a doctor or coroner
should be contacted immediately. It is the responsibility
of the funeral home to make contact with the hospital,
coroner, or doctor to inquire if the remains can
be removed from the place of death and brought to
the funeral home. The funeral home will bring the
deceased back to the funeral home only after the
doctor or coroner has been to the home to pronounce
the death. When a death occurs in an institution
the family must come to the funeral home and provide
written authorization. It is always the doctor or
coroners responsibility to inform the family of
the cause of death and factors surrounding the death.
The funeral home does not receive a coroner’s
report of any type.
|
| 2)
Making Funeral Arrangements |
| An
appointment will be set at a time which is
mutually agreed upon to make the funeral arrangements
at the funeral home. Making funeral arrangement
requires about 1 – 1 ½ hours to
complete. The funeral home cannot remove the
deceased from a hospital, nursing home, or
coroners facility until the family has come
to the funeral home and signed a form stating
they have given the home permission to remove
the deceased from the place of death. That
is a standard policy of all hospitals. When
the family comes to the funeral home the following
information is required in order to complete
the arrangements.
|
|
| 1)
Vital Statistics : name, date of birth, place
of birth, age, occupation, address, names
of both parents and their birth places, and
social insurance number. This information
is required for funeral home records and government
purposes |
| 2)
Name of person who is legally able to make
arrangements and their address. |
|
| The
following is a list of particulars that will
require a decision: |
| 1)
Selection of a casket |
| 2)
A wooden urn to place the cremated remains
in |
| 3)
A time to come to the funeral home for the
bathing and dressing of the deceased |
| 4)
Which evening the visitation and prayers will
take place on |
| 5)
A time and date for the funeral service at
the crematorium |
| 6)
Which crematorium will the funeral service
take place at |
|
7)
Floral arrangements
|
|
| 3)
Funeral Arrangements (Bathing, Visitation,
And Funeral Service) |
| -The
bathing and dressing is performed in a special
room provided by the funeral home. The family
should bring with them the supplies that are
required to observe religious practices, toiletries,
and clothing. Following the bathing and dressing
the family may, if desired, assist in placing
the deceased into their casket. The entire
bathing and dressing takes about one hour.
-Visitation
is held from 6 to 8 pm at the funeral home.
The family organizes a priest to attend
the funeral home for prayers. Scarves are
provided by the funeral home for those who
need them. At the end of prayers the casket
is closed until the day of the funeral.
-On
the day of the funeral the family gathers
at the funeral home an hour prior to leaving
to go to the crematorium. The funeral director
will announce the driving route to the crematorium,
assemble and mark vehicles in order to drive
in procession. In order to carry the casket
a minimum of 6 people are required.
-The
service at the crematorium requires one
hour. Following prayers the immediate family
will accompany the casket to the cremation
chamber where they may assist in the beginning
of the cremation process. The cremation
process takes approximately 3-4 hours to
be completed. At the completion of the cremation
the crematorium staff will remove the ashes
from the chamber and place them in the urn.
The funeral home will attend to transporting
the remains back to the funeral home until
the family has reached a decision on their
disposition.
|
|
| SHIPPING
HUMAN REMAINS TO INDIA
-Requirements by the Consulate of India
|
| There
are certain mandatory documents that
are required in order to ship Human
Remains and are provided by Scott Funeral
Home (Brampton Chapel).
|
| 1.
Burial Permit (This is obtained through
the Registrar General office)
2.
2 Certified Copies of the Death Certificate
(This is obtained through the Register
Generals Office)
3.
A letter from the Public Health Office
indicating that there is “No
Communicable Disease”
4.
Letter of Embalming from Scott Funeral
Home (Brampton Chapel)
5.
Coroners’ Out of Province Certificate
(Allowing the body to leave Canada)
6.
Name, Address and Telephone Number
of Consignee (Person in Charge in
India, must be family member)
7.
Passport of the Deceased
8.
Letter of travel arrangements from
Scott Funeral Home (Brampton Chapel)
Specific
Merchandise required for by the Indian
Consulate to ship Human Remains to
India.
1.
Hermetic Inner Metal Sealer (This
is placed inside the wooden casket)
or a metal casket that is hermetically
sealed.
2.
Air Tray (The casket is place in the
air tray and is used for shipment
on the airplane)
|
|
| SHIPPING
THE URN WHICH CONTAINS THE ASHES TO
INDIA |
| 1.
Certificate of Cremation (This is obtained
from the crematorium and is kept with
the urn at Scott Funeral Home (Brampton
Chapel)
2.
Letter of contents; what is inside
the urn (This is obtained from the
crematorium and is kept with the urn
at Scott Funeral Home (Brampton Chapel)
3.
Certified copy of the death certificate
(This is obtained from the Registrar
General Office)
4.
Passport of the Deceased
5.
Name, Address, Phone Number of Consignee
and cemetery (Person in charge in
India, must be family member)
If
a body is shipped by air or urn brought
back to India by the family the consulate
requires the above information in
order to provide a clearance letter.
ADDITIONAL
COSTS FOR SHIPMENT: (By air or family
taking urn to India)
1.
Consulate Fee
2.
Airfare (This is calculated by the
weight of the casket at the airport)
|
|
|
| Information
provided by Scott Funeral Home (Brampton Chapel).
|
Scott
Funeral Home, Brampton Chapel
289 Main St. North
Brampton, Ontario
L6X 1N5
|
Tel.
905-451-1100
Fax. 905-451-1188
E-Mail: scottfuneralhome@primus.ca |
| Scott
Funeral Home, Brampton Chapel, Proudly serves the
East Indian Community, and consistently strive to
further educate ourselves in the East Indian religious
beliefs and customs. We believe very strongly that
the more educated we are, the more comfortable the
family will be, and overall the ceremonies being
done with respect and dignity. |
| |
|
|
|
