Cow dung cakes for cremation. Telegraph picture

Berhampur, April 29: An eco-friendly method has been used to cremate bodies during the last seven decades in Paralakhemundi, the district headquarter of Gajapati, 120km from here. Unlike other crematoriums in different parts of the state, no firewood and electric heaters are used in any of the four crematoriums there.

“You can find no firewood to burn dead bodies in Paralakhemundi. There are also no electric heaters in any of these four crematoriums. The bodies are burnt only by specially-made dry cow dung cakes, which are available abundantly in about 20 outlets across the town,” said Bira Kishore Patnaik (49), president of Karan Samaj Paralakhemundi, who has attended more than 1,500 funerals till date.

Firewood was used for cremation earlier in Paralakhemundi. But the opening of a farm in Paralakhemundi by former Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and a boost in diary farming that produced a huge quantity of cow dung everyday prompted many to go for the cremation of dead bodies with the use of cow dung cakes instead of firewood to tackle the problem of garbage and deal with the deteriorating forest cover simultaneously, Bira said quoting some senior citizens.

Though cremation by cow dung cakes requires a special technique, almost all the residents there know the skill and the locals help out the outsiders, he said.

Explaining the technique, Bira said that one must dig a hole of about 5-feet long (3 haata and one chakhanda according to local tradition) and about 2-feet width (one haata and one chakhanda) and same depth in the crematorium. Five hundred cow dung cakes in 10 lines (50X10) in two layers must be packed in the pit to allow air into it. One ignites the remaining cow dung cakes separately. When the dead body is kept over the cow dung cakes and funeral pyre (Mukhagni) is being lit, others pour the burning cow dung over the dead body and it catches fire with the help of kerosene, Bira said.

The burnt cow dung cakes remain hot up to 18 hours. Hadasitala of the body is generally carried out the next morning by pouring water on it. About 1,500 pieces of cow dung cakes are required to burn one body in six hours, he said.

The cow dung cakes used for this purpose are prepared by female members of the ‘Gola’ and ‘Kampa’ communities. These are uniform in size with a six-inch radius and about 1.5-inch width. About 1,500 pieces of these cow dung cakes worth Rs 2,250 are required for one funeral.

The transportation cost of these from the sale outlet to the cremation ground by bullock cart is between Rs 100 and Rs 150. Though the cost of the fuel is Rs 150 for 100 cakes, the rate generally soars up by Rs 10 to Rs 15 during the monsoon, said sources.

Though about 150kg of firewood is required to burn a dead body and the approximate rate of this firewood in Paralakhemundi is only Rs 450 (50kg costs Rs 150), nobody burns bodies with firewood. They prefer cow dung cakes, which are five times costlier than the firewood, sources said.

Though the tradition of cremation is doing excellent job to preserve ecology in Paralakhemundi all the 4 crematoriums including one situated at the banks of River Mahendratanaya, one situated at the banks of River Mahendratanaya, Gopalpur in the outskirt on Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border (both meant for cremation of the dead bodies of higher class people since the rule of the Maharaja of Paralakhemundi) and another crematorium situated at Hatibadi in Padmanav Tota exclusively for the dead bodies of the people belonging SC, ST and OBC and another near Sita Sagar are in limbo as there are no electricity. Gopalpur, Hatibadi and Sita Sagar crematorium have no boundary wall, gate, shed and other infrastructure facilities, said Bira.

Original

ECO-FRIENDLY TRADITION HELPS CREMATE DEAD BODIES

Sunil Patnaik

Berhampur

April 29, 2011:

You may call them eco-friendly traditions in cremation of dead bodies that is being followed since about seven decades in Paralakhemundi, the district headquarter of Gajapati, 120 km from here. The people there do make the place an interesting one for the outside world. Unlike other crematoriums in different parts of the state no fire woods and no electric heaters are being used in any of the 4 crematoriums there.

“You can find no fire wood to burn any dead body in Paralakhemundi. There are also no electric heaters in any of these 4 crematoriums. The dead bodies are being burnt only by specially made dry cow dung cakes, which are available abundantly in about 20 outlets situated in different corners of the town”, said Bira Kishore Patnaik (49) President Karan Samaj Paralakhemundi who has till attended more than 1500 funerals in the crematoriums till today.

Firewood was used during cremation of dead bodies earlier in Paralakhemundi. But opening of a home farm in Paralakhemundi by former Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and boost in diary farm trading that produced huge cow dung every day prompted many to adopt cremation of dead bodies by cow dung cakes instead of fire wood to tackle the problem of garbage and deal with the deteriorating forest cover simultaneously, Bira said quoting some senior citizens. Though cremation through cow dung cakes requires special technique, almost all the residents there know this skill and the locals help the outsiders during cremation of their near and dear ones, he said.

Replying to a question about the process and technique being used during cremation of dead bodies through cow dung cakes, Bira said that one must dig a hole of about 5-feet long (3 haata and one chakhanda according to the local tradition), about 2-feet width (1 ‘haata’ and one ‘chakhanda’ precisely) and same depth in the crematorium. 500 cow dung cakes in 10 lines (50X10) in two layers must be packed in the pit to allow air into it. One ignites the remaining cow dung cakes separately. When the dead body is kept over the cow dung cakes and funeral pyre (Mukhagni) is being lit, others pour the burning cow dung over the dead body and it catches fire with the help of kerosene, Bira said. The ash of the cow dung though remains hot even up to 18-hours, ‘Hadasitala’ of the dead body generally carried during the next morning by pouring water on it. About 1500 pieces of these cow dung cakes are required to completely burn one dead body within six hours, he said.

The cow dung cakes used for this purpose being produced by the lady members of the ‘Gola’ and ‘Kampa’ people are uniform in size with 6-inch radius and about 1.5-inch width. About 1500 pieces of these cow dung cakes worth Rs 2250 are required for each funeral. Transportation cost of these cow dung cakes from the out let to the cremation ground by bullock cart is about Rs 100 to Rs. 150. Though the cost of this cow dung is Rs 150 per one hundred cakes, the rate generally soars up to additional Rs 10 to Rs. 15 during the rainy season, according to sources.

Though the tradition of cremation is doing excellent job to preserve ecology in Paralakhemundi all the 4 crematoriums including one situated at the banks of River Mahendratanaya, one situated at the banks of River Mahendratanaya, Gopalpur in the outskirt on Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border (both meant for cremation of the dead bodies of higher class people since the rule of the Maharaja of Paralakhemundi) and another crematorium situated at Hatibadi in Padmanav Tota exclusively for the dead bodies of the people belonging SC, ST and OBC and another near Sita Sagar are in limbo as there are no electricity. Gopalpur, Hatibadi and Sita Sagar crematorium have no boundary wall, gate, shed and other infrastructure facilities, said Bira.

Though about 150-kilo firewood require for burning a dead body and the approximate rate of this firewood in Paralakhemundi is only Rs. 450 (50 kg costs Rs 150), no body burn the dead bodies in firewood. Rather the family members prefer cow dung cakes which are five times more costly than the firewood, sources said