Former chairman of Tata Sons and veteran industrialist Ratan Tata has passed away. He breathed his last at 11:30 pm on Wednesday night at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. His mortal remains, wrapped in the tricolor, have been kept in the lawns of the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) at Nariman Point for public viewing. After the tribute, his last rites will be performed at Worli crematorium on Thursday at 4 pm.
Meanwhile, a video of the prayer meeting is going viral on social media. Seeing this video, people are calling Ratan Tata an inspiration for the whole of India. In the video, gurus of all religions are standing shoulder to shoulder and praying in the NCPA lawn. Many people are paying tribute to the mortal remains of the industrialist. People have also given their reaction on the presence of priests of all religions in Ratan Tata’s prayer meeting. Commenting, one user wrote, “Being a good person is the biggest religion. Humanity is the name of that religion which is respected by people of every religion.” Another user said, “We lost a gem.” Another user said, “He brought everyone together. may his soul rest in peace.”
Ratan Tata’s mortal remains will be taken to the Parsi cemetery in Worli where he will first be kept in the prayer hall for the last prayers which will last for about 45 minutes. After the prayers, the body will be taken to the electric crematorium for cremation.
Last rites will be performed according to Hindu religion
While Hindus cremate the body and Islam and Christianity bury the body, Parsis follow a unique practice. Under this process the deceased is placed on top of the ‘Tower of Silence’. There the vultures eat the dead bodies. Parsis avoid cremation or burial because they consider the body of the deceased impure and believe that it contaminates the natural elements. Cremation is avoided because it defiles the fire which is sacred in Zoroastrianism. Similarly burial is not practiced as it is believed to pollute the earth. Keeping dead bodies in water is prohibited because it pollutes the water element. However, a decision has been taken to cremate Ratan Tata’s body.
