Odisha Daughters Break Barriers: Perform Last Rites Of Their Mother

Daughters Perform Last Rites: When two sons did not show up for their mother's funeral, these daughters carried the body and performed the last rites for their mother in Odhisha.

Jati Nayak, an octogenarian in Puri, Odisha passed away on Sunday. She had four daughters and two sons. The four daughters were married while her sons with their families stayed separately. The elderly woman had been left to find for herself. Her sons neither checked in with her nor did they ever visit her.

The neighbours said that the two sons were informed about their mother's death but they did not respond or turn up to the funeral.

When they contacted Jati Nayak's four daughters, they informed the neighbours immediately that they were going to be there as soon as possible.

Upon their arrival, they prepared the bier needed to carry the body to the crematorium. They carried their mother's body and walked for 4km to reach the Swarga Dwar (cremation ground) to perform the last rites.

"Our brothers had been neglecting our mother for the last ten years. They never allowed her to stay with them. During these years, they never, even for once, inquired her if she was well, and let alone taking care of her food. Prior to her death, she had once become ill and we had to shift her to hospital in an ambulance. Then too, our brothers had chosen to remain indifferent,” rued one of the four daughters.

Other times women broke the barriers and performed the last rites 

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat died along with 11 other armed forces personnel in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu in December 2021. They were cremated with full military honours in Delhi on December 10, 2021. The last rites were performed by their daughters – Kritika and Tarini at the Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantt.

Actor Mandira Bedi recently performed the last rites of her husband who passed away in June 2021. She also defied age-old Hindu custom that only allows men to take part in funeral rituals.