Ashes of 82 unclaimed dead immersed with dignity at Pune's Sangam ghat

Pune: The ashes of 82 people who were cremated as unclaimed, and for whom no one came forward to perform the final rites, were worshipped and immersed at the Sangam ghat on Sarvapitri Amavasya. The rite was organised jointly by the Rashtriya Kala Academy and the Pune Municipal Corporation's Dhole Patil ward office.

People who die unclaimed in the city are cremated at the Kailas crematorium. If no relative or acquaintance comes forward afterwards to immerse the ashes, they remain there. These ashes are collected and immersed according to religious rites.

The initiative has run for 16 years. The ashes used to be immersed every month on amavasya; the practice lapsed for a while and efforts are now on to keep it going. Sarvapitri Amavasya is the day on which ancestors are remembered, and immersing on that day the ashes of those who have no one to perform rites for them reflects both faith and humanity, the organisers said.

Every person deserves a dignified farewell, even after death, the organisers said, and those present at the immersion were visibly moved.

Source: Pudhari