Crematorium Experience

I have never stepped into a crematorium in my life.

Except, I guess, you just have to experience everything once in your life? So, yesterday, I did.

The office mates and I went to pay our last respect to a passing relative of one of the bosses yesterday. I have been to a few Chinese funerals before but have never actually gone up to the extend of going either to the burial ground or the crematorium. 2pm, the cortege left the house and we all bundled up into the car to follow the procession.

Arriving at the crematorium, I parked the car and we all walked into the waiting parlour. Looking a lot like a mini muhibbah group (me the Malay Muslim, Ms J a Catholic Chinese and Mr S and his GF are Indian) we grouped behind the deceased relatives, looking towards the casket which was placed at one entrance heading towards where the furnaces were.

Now, blame this on all the Hollywood movies that you have ever seen. I had a thinking that the relatives will do all the prayers,  then the casket will be wheeled in and later placed into the furnace when everyone else goes home.

Wrong.

After the chants from the Sri Lankan monks and followed by a further short prayers, the handlers pushed the casket through the entrance, straight into the furnace. All the relatives followed behind and obviously me and the rest of mates who at this time were so curious of what was going on tailed behind.

The next thing I knew, I saw the handler pushed a button at the side of the furnace and ROOOAAAAAAARRRR!! The loudest burning, roaring sound came out from the now-fiery furnace and I could feel the heat all the way hitting my face and body even when we were standing quite a distance! I saw huge flames engulfing the casket and everyone was offering their last silent prayers.

I stood there, awed. A deep sense of confusion and other unexplained feelings engulfed me. I stood there knowing there was a body inside there who used to be just like me – living, breathing, with soul and feelings, needs and wants.

We went home right after.

I dropped the mates off later on and drove home in silence still trying to comprehend the feelings I had. Caught in my thinking how life is. Now here you are still standing and the next moment, you are gone. You are just a pile of ash.

That evening I stood by my bedroom window looking out to the forests on the hills nearby. I could hear the callings of the wild birds and perhaps a monkey or two, the crickets were singing somewhere in the bushes. The yellow moon was peeking out in between the shadows of the trees. The night was beautiful with gentle breeze.

I thought of my dad who passed away 6 years ago. And of the lady whom we paid the last respect for just hours earlier.

They could not have enjoyed the evening as I was as they were not here anymore.