What Happens When You Die in India?

When I first arrived in my wife's village in India, I thought these structures (called Chhatri छतरी) were to shade farmers. I was wrong; it was time for my lesson on death in rural India.

In India, a "chhatri" refers to a traditional architectural element that resembles an umbrella or canopy and is often used as a decorative element in buildings and monuments. The word "chhatri" (छतरी) itself is derived from the Hindi word for umbrella. Chhatris are typically dome-shaped structures with pillars or supports, commonly found in Rajput and Mughal architecture.

Chhatris are often associated with death and are commonly used as cenotaphs or memorials to honour and commemorate deceased royalty or prominent individuals. The tradition of using chhatris in the context of death is deeply rooted in Indian culture and history.

Chhatris serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Functionally, they provide shade and shelter, while aesthetically, they contribute to the overall visual appeal of a structure. Chhatris are commonly seen in various parts of India, particularly in regions with a rich historical and architectural heritage.

These structures are often erected over a platform or elevated platform and are adorned with intricate carvings, paintings, or other decorative elements. Chhatris are associated with royalty and are frequently found in the context of cenotaphs, memorials, and palaces. They symbolise the grandeur and architectural finesse of the historical periods during which they were built.

While cremation is the most common practice, other communities and religions in India, such as Muslims and Christians, follow burial traditions. The choice of burial or cremation depends on religious and cultural beliefs, regional customs, and individual preferences.

Instead of a Chhatri (the memorial building you saw in this video), some people might build another type of structure, like donating a new classroom to a school in their name or public seating with their name on it.

#India #Hinduism #Haryana #Rajasthan #village #villagelife #ruralindia

[ArunSharma-ntoy]

Are nhi phupha ji.
Han puttra

Wholesome.❤

[KarlRock]

Instead of a Chhatri (छतरी) (the memorial building you saw in this video), some people might build another type of structure, like donating a new classroom to a school in their name or public seating with their name on it.

[manasjoshi]

Yeh admi pura Indian ho gaya hai... The way he says "Ganga'❤

[KarlRock]

Chhatris are often associated with death and are commonly used as cenotaphs or memorials (स्मारक) to honour and commemorate prominent individuals. The tradition of using chhatris in the context of death is deeply rooted in Indian culture and history.

[smokydonut]

bro knows more india than me being an indian

[KarlRock]

Featuring guest appearance by lil' Taksh (तक्ष) from Haryana.

[volvo]

Rural India looks beautiful. The farmland, small villages....

[KarlRock]

While cremation is the most common practice, other communities and religions in India, such as Muslims and Christians, follow burial traditions. The choice of burial or cremation depends on religious and cultural beliefs, regional customs, and individual preferences.

[KarlRock]

Would you like to be remembered this way?

[swikruti_mishra]

We also build in our Village in Odisha, india.

[TwinkleNight]

Yeah this is something unique and wholesome ❤

[shivika]

In Uttar Pradesh it us called devta's place(devtas-the ancestors). And at any happy occasion we visit there and on festivals the first batch of food is sent on devtas and cow.

[Boop-beep-bap]

How wonderful it must be to live in your wife's home village ❤️ Vast fields to roam and clean air to breath. Even mobile towers aren't visible in the video.

[Hjoohfserfcoobv]

It is still like wasting your land, a person who dies never going to come back no matter what you do for it

[pearlystonee]

In assam its called "morihali"(some regions in assam may have different names but that's how it is called from the region i belong ).
If you go to a random village you will see them they are like small tombs, but some people don't really build probably because the person was not really memorable or not nice or the family has less budget or its simply not their tradition.
The tombs are mainly built where the body was burnt . My grandma has one too and its quite the biggest in my dad's village, my dad and all my uncles contributed to build that because she was an amazing human💗

[specialagentane]

BhaiyaJi, thanks so much for your posting this. I'm from the US and
the death/burial tradition here is just that much different.

[dancewithdakshita]

My mother's grandmother and grandfather statue is also there in the farm my mother's grandmother was 102 old and her grandfather was 100 years old when they died

[RonitBatra]

Bro teaching Indians about Indian traditions. It's beautiful ❤️

[stormssf]

It is so good to see such proximity in your mixed ethinicity family.

[stormssf]

We had temple shaped tombs under mango trees to store ashes until, a few years ago when we went to ganga .