Cyber-space is now used for more than exchanging emails or using webcams to share news with family and friends.
AHMEDABAD : Cyber-space is now used for more than exchanging emails or using webcams to share news with family and friends. These days, families are using the internet to watch marriage ceremonies in real time, and even to ‘bless’ newly married couples. Also, the web has turned out to be an unexpected blessing for those who are desperate to have a last look at a family member who has passed away in their absence.
Deval Modi, a lawyer who celebrated his cousin’s (sister) wedding recently, arranged for the marriage to be web-cast for his relatives abroad. “We have a big family with relatives living in the US, Canada and Australia.
The bride’s father stays in the US, and though he was unable to make it to Ahmedabad for his daughter’s marriage, he was able to watch the marriage online.”
According to Ajit Kakkad, a city based photographer, the trend is catching on. He has telecast as many as 50 weddings in the recent past where a 3-hour web-cast of a marriage can cost anything between Rs20,000 and Rs25,000.
“Two 3CCD cameras fixed over the ‘mandap’, live editing and a connection to an internet messenger are all that you need to be able to show the ceremony online.” said Kakkad.
Also, online telecasting is not restricted to weddings; funerals are another event where this service is in high demand.
The crematorium at Thaltej, Antim Dham, claims that it is the first and only crematorium in Ahmedabad to offer online telecast of funeral services.
Its caretaker, Pramod Barot, said that up to 150 families ask for this service every year.
“If a parent dies while the child is abroad, we telecast the funeral so that the bereaved child can have a last glimpse of his deceased parent,” said Barot.
Shree Saraswati Muktidham in Sidhpur was the first crematorium in Gujarat to provide this facility. “We offer this service, free of charge, to nearly 1400 villages and towns,” said Gautam Dave, chairman of Shree Saraswati Muktidham.
“Currently, we have two cameras but we are planning to install one camera at each of the 12 furnaces of the crematorium, he said.”
(Some names have been changed on request.)
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