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British Hindus, Sikhs seek a holy river closer home

Hindus and Sikhs based in Britain are seeking to turn part of the Aire river in west Yorkshire as a sacred place to scatter the ashes of their loved ones in accordance with tradition.

Seen as a substitute for the Ganga river, where many Hindus and Sikhs scatter the ashes of their loved ones, the British members of both the communities argue that since all rivers flow into the sea, the ashes will eventually reach the same place, irrespective of where they are scattered.

Thousands of Hindus and Sikhs living in Britain now make a costly trip to the Ganga river for the ceremonial scattering of the ashes.

If the Bradford Metropolitan City Council gives its approval to the site, a small shrine will be built to Shiva, the god of creation, destruction and dance.

Morani Gupta, the chairman of the World Council of Hindus in Yorkshire, said the sole requirement of Hindus was that they should be prepared to make the necessary leap of faith. "The most important thing in the Hindu faith is where your mind is, you are there," he said.

"So even if you are on the bank of the Aire river and meditating and feeling like you are on the banks of the Ganga river, then perhaps you will get the same reward."

It has taken three years to find a place that has fast-flowing water and a safe position for mourners.

Jane Glaister, Bradford council's director for arts, heritage and leisure, said that talks were being held with the local Hindu and Sikh communities and with the environment agency. She said that a number of sites along the Aire were being considered, but that no decisions had been made.

An environment agency spokesman said, "Both environmental factors and sensitivity to grieving relatives need to be considered when such cases arise."

About 75,000 of Bradford's 523,000 population are of south Asian origin.

PTI

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