Hindus in the UK are divided over the call by US statesman and President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed urging for a special area at Windermere lake for scattering ashes. Religious tradition dictates, that the ashes of Hindus who die overseas should be scattered at holy sites such as Varanasi, Haridwar or in any other places on the banks of holy river Ganges, in India.
Zed wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment Michael Gove, Lake District National Park Authority Chairman Mike McKinley and Lake District National Park Chief Executive Richard Leafe requesting to develop a dedicated area for scattering cremated remains over Windermere Lake in view of substantial numbers of Hindu population in the UK.
He has called for a 'special gazebo building and altar-style platform to be built on its banks.'
Zed added, if the officials needed any help in the religious expertise during the designing and development process, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to assist. Besides Hindus, it would also benefit all others interested in scattering the cremated remains on the body of water.
A dedicated cremated remains scattering area is reportedly near completion in Sarnia in Southwestern Ontario (Canada) over the St. Clair River. Windermere Lake, a landscape of exceptional beauty, in the Lake District National Park in northwest England, is ten and a half miles long and 219 feet deep. Major English Romantic poet William Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” poem is said to be the quintessential Lake District poem. There are 15 National Parks in the UK.
Trupti Patel, the President of the Hindu Forum said, “I have investigated this matter with various community organisations and temples across the Northwest and none of them are aware of this request to scatter ashes into the Lake Windemere. In the UK we already have designated sites to scatter ashes and do not understand why someone from the USA should claim to speak on behalf of the Hindus of the UK?
“The HFB is an umbrella body who liaise with the Government on behalf of the Hindu community, we have regional vice presidents to keep in touch with the local organisations and try and understand the need of the community.”
However, the Lake is already a place of significance for the Swaminarayan Gadi sect. One of their Gurus, Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa passed away after a boat ride in Lake Windermere in 1979. He travelled on Miss Cumbria and sat down for a congregation on the side of the lake. That same evening he died in Bolton. It has been sacred place for that Swaminarayan sect and deciples go back there to visit as a holy shrine. A plaque has also been installed in the Miss Cumbria boat as well as on a tree, where Swamiji assembled for the last time.
Dr Mahesh Varsani, Trustee of the Three Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, told Asian Voice, “Lake Windermere has been a holy place for us for years now, ever since Swamibapa's visit in 1979. For last 2-3 years our disciples have also scattered the ashes of their loved ones in the Lake. In 2015 when my father pased away, I scattered his ashes there. It has a sacred significance for us.”
Cremation and scattering of ashes are particularly important in Hindusism as followers believie that the ceremony is tied to reincarnation. The ashes of around 100,000 people are thrown in traditional sites in India every year.
The 2011 Census revealed there are 817,000 Hindus living in the UK, more than half of them living in and around London.
But the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has raised concerns about the number of ashes scatterings of all religions in the park. Rob Dyer, access officer for the BMC said, ashes were affecting some of the eco syastems by increasing nutrient content of the soil on some fell tops.
Mark Eccles, the LDNP head of park management said, there was “usually nothing to stop you from having a ceremony” in national parks but anyone scattering ashes should ask the permission of the landowner, The Daily Telegraph reported.
He added, that it was “fine to use water with some caveats,” according to the BBC. “For inlad rivers or lakes, contact the local Environment Agency to check there is no nearby water supply and try to avoid where people might be swimming, fishing or boating while you're doing the ceremony.”
