Strokes

It was fascinating today to take part in a Sikh Funeral. Not entirely different to our services, but the coffin goes home and is carried, usually by family members. It also went into the Hearse head first, where we tend to go in feet first. After the service at the Crem, a few family members go around the back to see the coffin being loaded (charged) into the cremator and then go outside to see the first puff of smoke, of which, I presume, is the soul departing on it's journey? A bus is laid on for all friends and neighbours and community leaders and is a really big affair. Then everyone returns to the Mosque. Having read a book on different Funeral cultures, it is good to see how other races carry out the ceremony. I was abroad once when round a street corner came hundreds of people and in the middle of them was an open coffin on it's way to the burial place. I nearly got trampled down and carried along with them? which would have been a novel way to go. Heard some good jokes by the porters today of which I will be trying out on our long suffering audience at some stage.