Hindu Wins Right to Traditional Cremation in United Kingdom

By Karishma Patel

Hindus are allowed to have an open cremation in the UK

United Kingdom (CHAKRA) — A devout Hindu of Indian-origin who is a social and spiritual leader in the UK won the right to be cremated in an open air funeral pyre in accordance with the Hindu faith, ending a lengthy legal battle.

Britain’s court of appeal granted Davendar Ghai, 71, the right to be cremated in an open air pyre after his death.  The judgment is one to remember.

Ghai, with joy for his success, said the verdict had “breathed new life into an old man’s dreams.  I always maintained that I wanted to clarify the law, not disobey or disrespect it.”

Under the 1902 Cremation Act, open air cremation anywhere outside of a crematorium have been prohibited in Britain, so many Indian-origin families Britain take bodies of their deceased family members to India for cremation, to follow Hindu rites.

Ghai has been raising awareness and taking legal action for the right to cremate, in accordance with Hindu beliefs, for several years.