Hindus are urging city councils of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga to work on creating dedicated areas for the dispersal of the cremated remains over sea, river, or other bodies of water.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that areas in and around these cities now had substantial Hindu populations and it was important for grieving Hindu families to scatter the cremated remains of their loved ones on the body of water.
These city councils should work with interested local communities to create dedicated areas along the bodies of water available in/nearby their cities so that grieving families and friends could gather and perform the last rituals properly, respectfully and peacefully; Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stated.
Rajan Zed urged Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga city councils to seriously and earnestly delve into developing this dedicated area for scattering cremated remains; which could include installing a platform, raising an open roofed structure like gazebo and building a link road.
Zed further said that if the officials of these councils needed any help in the religious expertise during the designing and development process, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to assist. Besides Hindus, it would also benefit all others interested in scattering the cremated remains on the body of water.
A multi-cultural country like New Zealand should be more receptive and responsive to the basic needs of its hard-working, harmonious and peaceful Hindu community; which had made lot of contributions to the nation and society; and continued to do so; Rajan Zed added.