A bit different today
For those of you who regularly join me in my celebrant journey, thank you for sticking around, and I hope what I write is helpful.
Normally, I write about weddings, the sparklier side of my job, but today I wanted to tell you about the amazing privilege it has been to help a family create and deliver a Hindu cremation service.
It’s a responsibility that carries deep meaning, and I’ve found myself fully immersed in learning about the rich traditions, beliefs, and cultural practices that surround it. It’s all new to me, and it has been a steep learning curve!!
As I’ve been researching and speaking with the family, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the significance behind each ritual. From the importance of the soul’s journey and reincarnation to the symbolism of fire and its role in the final rites, every aspect is thoughtful, spiritual, and rooted in centuries of tradition. It’s been both fascinating and humbling to step into a worldview that, while different from my own, shares such profound respect for life, death, and what comes after.
What has stood out to me the most is the emphasis on peace, dignity, and guiding the soul onward. There’s a sense of continuity rather than finality, a belief that death is not an end, but a transition. That perspective brings a certain comfort, and it’s something I feel privileged to help honour and reflect in the service
The service today was stunning. The room was filled with flowers and the sweet smell of incense; we were welcomed in by a group of ladies chanting, and throughout the service, family members came up to speak, pray, and chant. It was beautiful. The room was filled with colour, and the ladies in the congregation looked ethereal in their saris. I felt a little underdressed in my suit!
I know I butchered some of the pronunciations, but nobody cared—the ceremony was about love and peace.
There is often a gentle balance between sadness and peace. While there is, of course, grief, there is also an underlying sense of acceptance, a belief that life continues in another form.
After the funeral, families may continue with prayers or remembrance rituals, but today the family, along with friends, went to eat and drink mango lassis.
Overall, a Hindu funeral is a beautiful expression of love, respect, and spiritual belief. It’s a time to honour a life, support one another, and acknowledge the shared human experience of loss, while also holding on to hope and continuity. Learning about these customs has reminded me just how important it is to approach every family and every ceremony with openness, respect, and a willingness to listen. No two funerals are ever the same, and each one offers an opportunity to grow, both professionally and personally.
At the end of the day, despite our different cultures, beliefs, and traditions, there is something deeply universal about coming together to say goodbye to someone we love. Grief, remembrance, love, and the desire to honour a life well lived — these are things that connect us all.
And that, more than anything, is what makes this experience so meaningful.