Life stood at juxtaposition at around 5.45 on Friday evening at Vadilal Sarabhai Crematorium in the city.
Life stood at juxtaposition at around 5.45 on Friday evening at Vadilal Sarabhai Crematorium in the city. Some people were bidding last farewell to their loved one, while some were bidding farewell to their daughter, wishing her a bright future and happy married life.
The Naiya family, who have been living in the crematorium for four generations, arranged the marriage ceremony of their daughter, Sangita, on the crematorium campus.
Everything went off as if there was no difference in a temple and a crematorium.
Nobody, not even the bride and the bridegroom, seemed to feel any difference between the venue of their marriage and a marriage hall or party plot. For the couple who was going to exchange nuptial vows, the venue of marriage appeared to be immaterial.
Sangita, the bride, said that she wanted her marriage to take place in the courtyard where she had spent her childhood. On the other hand, Sandip Timaniya, the bridegroom, said that he felt lucky to have a girl like Sangita to be his wife.
Raju Naiya, a part-time sweeper with AMC, said, "We have been here since my grandfather's time. It is our home." Giving reasons for his decision to organise the marriage of his daughter on the crematorium campus, he said, "This is a most pious place and we wanted to bid farewell to our daughter from our home where she was born and brought up."
He said he had informed all his relatives about his decision and they agreed to the idea without any question being asked. He also stated that his own marriage ceremony, too, was held at that very place. "Besides, the marriage of my two daughters, Pina and Sonal, were also performed here in 2004," Naiya added.
Recollecting her memories, Gauriben Naiya said, "When I was brought here after my marriage, I used to get scared at night. However, with time this has become a special place for me, which is quite different from other places." She also said that her two children, one daughter and one son, are unmarried and their marriage ceremonies, too, would be held on the crematorium premises.
Chiman Timaniya, Sangita's father-in-law, said he had no reservations about the place. "The venue of marriage does not matter for us. What matters is the people with whom one is going to tie the bond of a life-time," said Timaniya, who works as a driver with Amreli Nagarpalika.
Citing an example from Shiva Puran, Timaniya said that crematorium is the place where Lord Shiva dwells; so, how could this place be inauspicious.
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