Clyde stands in for Ganges so Sikhs and Hindus can hold funeral rites

The Sikh community in Scotland has been given the first official spot to scatter ashes in a funeral ritual traditionally carried out on the Ganges.

The River Clyde in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, is more than 5,000 miles from the sacred r i v e r w h i c h r u n s t h r o u g h India, where it is a ritual of b o t h S i k h a n d H i n d u r e l i - gions to scatter ashes in running water.

The distance is to o far for some grieving families to travel, and attempts by the Sikh community in Scotland to find a suitable spot closer to home to scatter ashes in the sea, or in waters leading to the sea, had proved fruitless.

But now Inverclyde Council has become the first local authority to formally acknowledge the religious ritual, and has installed barriers as a safety measure at a specific site in Port Glasgow.

T h e Ne wa r k s l i pway wa s identified as the only suitable location for the scattering of ashes along the west coast.

D i s c u s s i o n s t o o k p l a c e b e t w e e n o f f i c i a l s f r o m Inverclyde Council, other local authorities and the Sikh and Indian communities to find a solution.

A spokesman for Inverclyde Council said: “We have been dealing with the Sikh and Indian community for some time with a view to identifying a suitable location for scattering ashes on the Clyde.

“Clearly this is a ver y sensitive issue and we have been doing our best to help.

“The group has approached Above, the scattering of ashes in the Ganges is a central part of the Sikh and Hindu religions. Right, railings have been installed at a slipway on the River Clyde in Port Glasgow to assist in the ritual

e ve r y l o c a l a u t h o r i t y l o o k - ing for assistance and we are hopeful that the assistance we have provided will help with the solemn and dignified scattering of ashes.

“O n e o f t h e r i t e s o f S i k h funerals is scattering the ashes of loved ones in flowing water such as a river or the sea.

“Members of the Sikh community in the west of Scotland have been trying to find a suitable and accessible location to allow this to take place in the River Clyde.

“The only suitable location identified is the slipway at Port Glasgow.

“As a welcoming place and one that suppor ts people of all faiths and none in saying their final farewell to loved ones, it is right that we support members of the wider S cottish Sikh communit y where we can.

“The handrail is there to support this and other uses.”

However, the installation of the railings has caused some annoyance among local boat owners, including members of Newark Boat Club, who were obstructed from launching their craft.

While the safety aspect was welcomed by sailing enthus i a s t s , t h e me t a l s t r u c t u r e stretched all the way to the end of the ramp and was completely submerged at high tide.

C o u n c i l s t a f f h a v e n o w trimmed back the railings.

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