Sunday, October 28, 2012

how much does it cost to die or rather bury one christian

First death in Cochin

This person died some three months ago. Sudden. One of my relatives mentioned about it, like "sad about  death of XXXX.  Well, I must not mention name. The person was young, so I assumed it was a road accident. Sent a text message to another guy, and came a reply.  Heart attack.

Later received a detailed email, which also, said, cost 17K.  17 K is the cost of burial, including may be pashnikanji, sort of  rice and lentle served to the visiting mourners after the burial.

Second death.

Another person died, and was buried, this time, old age. There is church fee for the mass, the grave, the silver cross, chaps who come with the cross, everything is detailed in the receipt from church.  The coffin seller would sell a suit, gloves, shoes and so on. The pack will cost 5500. ( the currency is Indian rupees).

The third

This time the coffin alone cost 30,000 Rupees. Made of rose wood.

Some old case. I remember , two years ago, in a village, coffin cost some 2000 bucks or less.

Why do I write this. I happened to hear that, it could be less than 5000 or more than 25,000 for a coffin.That is why. Those in the middle class go for one that costs less than 5000  and the affluent would go for one one that costs 30,000 Rupees.

The family, and relations plus mourners who come from far away, might not have had a meal for a long time, they would be hungry, so  some some boiled rice, spoon full of lentle sauce, a papad would keep their fire down. This food is served after the burial, the tradition is kept.

There are prayers, prayers, hymns are recited, that never ends. Constant rosary, the hail mary thing.

7th day mass after death, is to remember the dead, now, full vegetarian meal is served.
How much is does it cost. as on Sept 2012 it can cost some  Rs 130  (or  USD 2.5).  Meal is served Kerala style, on banana leaf, ends with a liquid dessert called payasam, this payasam, is  mixed with papad, and plantain, the small variety of banana.

After the 7th day mass, all the relatives who come from far away, like Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai, -- all fly away.  Remember, in Kerala, all educated youngsters, or working class citizens, find jobs, outside, India, and they are to get to go to their workstations, battle stations.

30th day of death ( well, i am talking about Christians, do not know how Hindus and Muslims in Kerala go through this drill)

Those who are left in Kerala will organise another mass in the Church, visit to the grave, and a  meal to the visiting friends and relations. This time there will be a meal, but non veg is the custom.

Completion of one year.

Those relations, including children, who could not make it to the funeral, now would gather in the home base, do a mass, decorate the grave and another gathering of lunch.

End story.