Perhaps the hardest day for any parent is to witness the funeral of their daughter, especially when she was the pampered, youngest one.
We are(were) four siblings, with me being the eldest, followed by Ravi (brother), Ritu (Sister), and the youngest was Seema.
Due to Covid-19 & other factors during the winter in UK, the mortuaries & crematoriums are extremely busy, with limited time slots given, together with restrictions of a maximum of 30 people at a funeral.
Our family was given a one-hour time slot on Monday, 15th February to pay our final respects to our beloved sister, at the Funeral Director’s office.
Only 6 people at a time were allowed to go in due to the “social distancing” rules.
I had ordered garlands for her body & her commemorative photo, together with a “OM” wreath, which was going to be placed on the coffin later on. I had also ordered 100 different coloured roses to be placed by all attending around her body, as a mark of respect.
Seema was already dressed by the Funeral Director’s staff. She had been anointed, and had a red long dress & a red chunni to cover her upper half. As is customary, each family put a red chunni on her body.
Ritu (sister), Sushma (sister-in-law), Shweta (Seema’s sisiter-in-law), & Sonika (Seema’s daughter), put make up on her, while her husband, Anurakt, put the final touches of sindhoor, bindi & garland. She looked like a bride.
Once she was ready, my parents went to see her.
My mother, Krishna Bhanot, broke down, with piercing, anguished screams.
My father, Basheshar Nath Bhanot, had a numbed expression. The rest of the family followed, in a single line, around the coffin.
It was a harrowing experience.
A day before, my brother had arranged for a private ambulance with paramedics, to be present both on 15th & 16th, the day of the funeral, in case the ordeal proved too much for my parents.
We all paid our last respects by chanting our mantras on her.
We left after the hour-slot.
There was a special programme on MATV on Monday night for a tribute to Seema, outlining & highlighting her life.
The next day, on 16th, we came back to the Funeral Director’s office and sat outside in our cars, until the Hearse was loaded on the funeral limousine.
We all followed.
It was a dull, grey day, which mirrored our own feelings.
The service itself, was a simple, dignified affair, where very emotional speeches were given by my dad, myself, Ravi, Ritu, Seema’s 3 children, Aman, Saahil & Sonika, followed by Anu, her husband, with a closing speech by the Hindu priest.
The final good byes said.
The final curtain was drawn.
This was relayed through webcast & zoom to all friends & family.
Since only 30 persons were allowed inside the crematorium, a larger crowd was waiting outside to pay the respects & condolences to the family.
It was a very emotional scene. Never to be forgotten.
By then, it had started raining, as though the Gods were sharing our tears.
We all went back to our own homes, and is customary, had a shower.
A havan was carried out at the Sharma residence, which we was relayed through zoom to the rest of the family.
The final prayers for a peaceful journey for Seema to her new abode.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti