இங்கிலாந்து: தெர்வாந்த் ஆற்றில் ஈமச்சடங்குகள் செய்ய இந்துக்களுக்கும் சீக்கியர்களுக்கும் அனுமதி

இங்கிலாந்து தெர்வாந்த் ஆற்றில் ஈமச்சடங்குகள் செய்ய இந்துக்களுக்கும் சீக்கியர்களுக்கும் அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Hindus, Sikhs allowed to scatter ashes of dead in UK river
21 Jul 2007, 2248 hrs IST,PTI
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LONDON: Hindus and Sikhs in Britain are allowed to scatter ashes of their loved ones in designated part of Derwent river in northern England, it was officially stated on Saturday.

Sam Reed of Gateshead Council said Hindus and Sikhs have been allowed to scatter the ashes in the Derwent, which flows to the river Tyne, for at least five years.

"It does happen and we do allow it," Reed said. "Our policy emerged as we launched council plans for the next 30 years.

"It goes without saying that it's a good thing for the diverse community."

Environmentalists in Britain have in the past opposed the idea of scattering human remains in rivers for fear of contamination. Many British Indians take the ashes out to sea -- where scattering is permitted -- while some make the trip to India to scatter the ashes in the Ganges.

In April this year, a British court declared that the burning of bodies in the open is not necessarily unlawful and that the subject was "an issue of considerable importance", after demands from British Hindus and Sikhs to allow open-air funerals, which are banned in Britain.

Now the Indian community in Canada have also sought a designated waterway for scattering the ashes of the dead after a growing number of Hindus started placing ashes, leaves and flowers in different Canadian waterways raising environmental concerns.