Dokument #1357655
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
The following information was provided in a
17 May 1995 telephone interview with and a follow-up fax dated 26
May 1995 from an administrator of the Tamil Information Centre, in
London, United Kingdom.
When a Hindu Tamil dies, a Hindu priest
will conduct the religious ceremonies at the home where the body
lies. At the cemetery, an elder will guide the individual
responsible for the last rites through the necessary steps.
At the death of the father, it is the
eldest son who performs the last rites, which include circling the
funeral pyre three times while carrying a clay pot on the
shoulders, and setting the funeral pyre on fire. At the death of
the mother, it is the youngest son who is responsible for the last
rites and for setting the funeral pyre alight. If both parents die
on the same day in the same place, and it is decided to cremate
them at the same time, both sons will perform the last rites and
set the pyres on fire.
If the son is unavailable or there are no
sons in the family, then the next of kin or close family members
will decide who should replace him, "the determination [of whom] is
[based] solely on attachment to the deceased or his/her family."
The source did not specify whether "attachment to the deceased"
referred to the genealogical or personal relationship with the
deceased. Thus, a close male relative, such as a brother, nephew or
son-in-law, in the male line of the deceased will perform the
duties.
Women do not go to the cemetery in Hindu
custom and so would not be able to partake in the last rites and
ceremony.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Tamil Information Centre, London, United
Kingdom. 26 May 1995. Fax sent to the DIRB by administrator.
Tamil Information Centre, London, United
Kingdom. 17 May 1995. Telephone interview with administrator.