Cremation Ceremony

Cremation Ceremony

Katmandu, Nepal

July 1999

We were not allowed in the temple since we are not Hindu so we watched the cremation ceremony from the bridge.  Those being cremated on this day were from a wealthy family. The hight of their alter tells us that.  They will be cremated until all of their body parts are ash.  Those less fortunate are cremated by the hour and when the hour is up, all that remains is swept in to the river, regardless of how much has not returned to ashes. For this reason, I was told that burnt body parts could be seen here from time to time. I didn't see any but I tried not to look.