News

First ever Funeral Rites Facility opens

May 12, 2018 5:20 am

Fijians who wish to perform the final rites of their loved ones by dispersing ashes into the sea will now be able to do so with dignity and respect.

This as the world’s first ever Funeral Rites Facility was officially opened by acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Vatuwaqa, Suva today.

The facility which cost over $900, 000 to build was fully funded by the government.

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Sayed-Khaiyum says this facility has been built for the Hindu community as their rituals are not complete unless the ashes of their loved ones are dispersed into the sea.

“As far as the rituals are concerned it is not complete without having such a facility. For those people who actually get buried they simply get buried, we dig the whole in the ground, we put the coffin in or you don’t put the coffin in and the rites are complete as far as the Hindu religion is concerned whilst you do a cremation you have to carry out further ritual before the entire process is completed. So this is why such a facility is very important and indeed necessary."

He says similar facilities will be built in Nadi, Lautoka, Nausori and Labasa.

Meanwhile this was also an emotional moment for former National Federation Party parliamentarian who had tabled the motion in parliament more than twenty years ago.

Sayed Abdul Khaiyum in his maiden speech in 1992 had made a recommendation and had put forward a motion in parliament for the Funeral Rites Facility in 1998.