Ratan Tata’s funeral held through Parsi rituals

Ratan Tata, the 86-year-old industry titan and the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group, died at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Wednesday. He was given a state funeral by the Maharashtra government and since he was a Parsi, his funeral took place according to the rituals followed by the community. He was later cremated in an electric crematorium.
Parsis do not cremate or bury their loved ones, unlike Hindus and Muslims, and they consider a human body as a gift of nature, which has to be returned. According to Zoroastrian beliefs, cremating or burying would contaminate the elements of nature – water, air and fire.
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In the early hours of the day, the body is prepared for the funeral rites. The body is washed and dressed in traditional Parsi attire by the Nassesalars, who are specialised pallbearers responsible for handling the remains. The body is then wrapped in a white shroud, known as the ‘sudreh’ (cotton vest) and ‘kusti’, a sacred cord that is worn round the waist.
Before the body is taken to the final resting place, prayers and blessings are performed by the Parsi priests. These rituals are designed to help the soul of the deceased transition smoothly into the afterlife. The family and close relatives gather to pay their respects and participate in these prayers.
Traditionally, the body would be taken to the Tower of Silence, or ‘Dakhma’, a structure specifically designed for Parsi funerals. The body is placed atop the ‘Dakhma’, where it is exposed to the elements and scavenger birds, typically vultures.
This practice, known as ‘Dokhmenashini’, ensures that the body is returned to nature without polluting the sacred elements of fire, earth and water. The vultures consume the flesh, and the bones eventually fall into a central well within the tower, where they are further decomposed.
However, given the current environmental and practical challenges and the decline in vulture populations, the funeral might incorporate modern adaptations. In some urban areas, solar concentrators are used to accelerate the decomposition process.
Alternatively, some Parsi families now opt for electric cremation, which is seen as a more practical and environmentally friendly option.
If the ‘Dakhma’ method is not feasible, the body will be taken to an electric crematorium. Here, the body is cremated in a manner that respects the Zoroastrian principles of not contaminating the earth, fire or water.
The Maharashtra government announced that Ratan Tata will be accorded a state funeral, reflecting his significant contributions to the nation.
His body has been kept at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in south Mumbai’s Nariman Point for the people to pay their respects before the final rites are performed. At 3.30 pm, Ratan Tata’s body will be taken to the Worli crematorium for his funeral.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the funeral on behalf of the government.