Cross Cultural Paper

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the JK, I noticed some similarities to the Gurdwara, the ladies were sitting on one side of the prayer hall and the men on the opposite side. This is the same in for the Gurdwara setting. As I walked in I was a noticeable outsider, I had some glances but everyone more or less were focused on the ritual at hand. I felt as if there were more eyes on me as I continued to feel like an outsider.

The deceased was at the very front, placed on the ground elevated by some wood structure. The body was fully draped in white cloth, with only the face being exposed. They do this so everyone can pay their last respects to the deceased. I saw Al sitting there with a somber look, we made eye contact for a second and I turned and exited the prayer hall.

I followed Karim to the shoe rack put on my shoes and waited for the next instructions. Karim asked if I wanted to go to the burial and partake with the friends and family. My first reaction was no, then I thought when else would I get this experience or opportunity, so I agreed and went along with him. We drove up to where the burial was going to take place at Forest Lawn Cemetary in Burnaby. I have been driving by this very cemetary for the last 29 years never once having any reason to go inside, well today was going to be my very first day.

When we got there, there was about 50 close friends and family that were there, only men, women are not allowed to attend this part of the ceremony. I felt an honour that I was going to be allowed to be an active participant in this ritual but more that I was there for someone I had known for the past five years and considered my friend.

We waited under a tent for the body to arrive in the hearse, once it did, the body was removed and placed into the ground without a coffin. The body was fully covered in white sheets. Once Al’s dad was place into the burial spot the “Mukhi” or religious person, climbed into the burial spot to do the last part of the ceremony. I could not see any of it as the burial spot was covered in a white sheet and could not see anything, this was meant by design as the last two rituals are being performed. The first is the Chanta, where the Mukhi asks god for forgiveness on behalf of the deceased. Second, the Mukhi then smothers the deceased with sugar water all over the face so bugs will come quicker to decay the body faster.

Once this ritual was done, everyone lines up and each person takes a turn putting dirt on the burial spot until it is full. I was honored that the I was allowed to partake in this event. It was my way of being there and felt closet to Al in all of the years I have known him. After the burial spot was filled with dirt, everyone individually paid their respects to Al, and the funeral was then complete.

This was probably one of the most major religious experiences I have been to outside of weddings and funerals. I have attended Sikh and Catholic weddings and funerals, but what should have been the least of my experiences, attending an Indian Ismaili funeral was the most fulfilling religious event I have been to.

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