Hindu youth have their say ...

HINDU youth share their views on the practices and rituals performed at funerals and they appeal to the older generation to be mindful of what they pass on. JAMIE PILLAY, 21, a marine administrator from Chatsworth said while she valued the old traditions and their significance, she believes that youth need to judge what is acceptable and not.

“There are times that people are misled and it is up to each person to decide if something is right or wrong. It is is also important that the older generation passes on the correct customs on to us,” she said. Student SHRETHA MAHARAJ, 25, from Chatsworth, said one of the practices she had heard of was widows being bad omens.

“I don’t understand how a woman who had no choice on becoming a widow should be treated so badly in society. Other practices that are not in ordinance with the scriptures or have any religious significance should not be practised.”

She said the youth needed to be taught the correct rituals and customs. RYAN DEVRAJ, 24, a salesman from Chatsworth, believes the older generation needs to research the practices that seem bizarre and find out where they came from and if they were still significant.

“Some traditions brought from India do not apply to us today but we are still doing it. If this is not corrected, people will teach the next generation the same thing. The onus is on the older generation to make sure the customs have religious meaning.”

He said the goal should be to give the grieving family comfort and help the deceased find rest.