so. the day grand dad moves his resting
place.
went with dad. maybe the women did not want
go cos it was to late at night.
maybe it’s a place where thousands of dead
ppl stay?
maybe it’s the thinking of “ do not go
unnecessary “ to a grave yard.
wad ever it was, only dad and me were they.
so. we met the guy in charge. he plans
everything. the food. the monk. the candle. the diggers. all
met the monk too. so we drove in.
they got lost. had to get of out the car to
direct them. got to granddad house.
there was a make shift tent age over his
grave. lurking in the back ground was the diggers, three of them. a gen set was
on providing power to the single floru tube.
so man in charge sets it all up. the food.
candles. josticks.
man said its ok to take a picture or two
before commencement of the prayers. so we did.
monk gets into his outfit. we stand behind
him.
1st prayers. to the landlord.
the god of earth. this god is in charge of anything related with the earth I
think. so hes the chap looking after all the graves and people staying there.
so prayers were said. fod was presented. words were said to him,
eg,
“ dear land god. thanks for looking after
granddad all this while. u did a great job. have some food here that we have
prepared for you.“
along those lines.
once the land god has been appeased, its
granddads turn.
candles. josticks. food. monk did his
chant.
no words were said. just the man saying
“bow”. we bowed.
next, each and every food dish was held up
and offered to granddad.
snice he was moving home, he had to do it
in new cloths. there was a cardboard box full of cloths. shoes. everything a
person needs to go on a short journey to their new home.
we burned this box to him.
final prayers were said.
dad and me stepped back.
could see the chaps getting ready.
shovels. scoops. large crow bars. and a
powered hammer drill.
granddads tomb is marble. solid red marble
from some mountain somewhere.
so I guess all the heavy demolition kit.
they started. we stood back by the road
side.
crow bars into the space between marble and
soil. bend bend bend.
break break break.
marble all over. soil is exposed. the
digging starts.
shovels. soil everywhere.
sigh. (( dad wants to go home.
so I get not get to see the coffin or when
it was opened up.
they worked all into the night. body was
taken out. went straight to the burning centre somewhere in the west.
next day, 1130am at granddads new home. we
waited for him.
granddad was dropped off at 12pm. in a
small red cloth.
prayers were said. food was offered.
than the process of placing him in the urn.
each one places a coin of any denomination into the bottom of the urn.
each one than picked up a single piece of
him with chopsticks. placed that part of him into the urn.
the man from the temple, ill call him the
official urn packer, than puts the rest of granddad into the urn. the last few
pieces in were the remains of his skull. the top plate , the larger parts.
which than is followed by another coin and
some gold flakes and a special gold coin thinge.
this than concludes the urn stuffing.
lid placed on, brought to the table.
prayers said, food offered, chants
performed.
than dad took granddad to his new
apartment. 13th floor, apartment 11. 1311.
placed him properly.
grandma is just a couple of blocks away.
they can always meet downstairs at the playground.
next, burned the red cloth he arrived in,
an umbrella, and more paper stuff. gold and sliver.
that than concludes the moving of granddad.
hope they are happy to be side by side.
