Residents of Mombasa and beyond were recently treated to an extraordinary rare spectacle when the body of billionaire philanthropist and business mogul Hasmukh Patel was publicly paraded before his cremation at the Hindu Crematorium.
The 58-year-old tycoon who owned Mombasa Cement Ltd was honoured in an elaborate procession that left Mombasa residents both shocked and fascinated.
In an unusual display, Patel’s body was dressed in a dark suit over a white shirt and placed in a sitting posture on a colourfully decorated open casket. ‘
The procession, which began at the Pandya Memorial Hospital morgue, made its way slowly through the city, making several stopovers at various Hindu temples before culminating at the New Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj Hall in Nyali, where the main service was held.
As the funeral cortege wound its way from the CBD to Nyali, the sight of the body in a sitting position on a special decorated truck drew a mix of emotions from onlookers. While some residents found the experience unsettling, others were intrigued by the uniqueness of the ritual.
“This is new to me,” remarked Martin Mwaura, a local resident. “Me too. I have actually made 11 calls concerning the same… astonishing,” added Jacob Elkana while echoing the sentiments of many others who witnessed the procession.
The event quickly became the talk of the town, sparking widespread discussion both online and offline, with many residents reflecting on the cultural significance of the ritual. The discussion revolved around whether public parading of bodies is in fact respectful to other people’s cultural beliefs or not.
Unsettling corpse parade
“No! This is not our culture. We are not used to such. Why are they showing us the dead? I was heading to church when we encountered the procession. For once I thought he was alive only to realise that it was a corpse. Imagine I was with my children for Heaven’s sake, this is wrong,” explained Anita Malika, resident of Kongowea.
Another resident, Duke Kariuki said the Sunday development inadvertently introduced him to body viewing for the first time, something he had vowed not to do in his life.
“In my community back in Central Kenya, we don’t view bodies but today I was subjected to viewing because the body was open. It’s quite traumatising,” noted Kariuki, adding that he found his eyes gazing at the body as the procession snaked through the streets of the Coastal town.
Although some cultural practices are fading away due to urbanisation and Western influence, rituals surrounding death remain deeply rooted in many African traditions. In African traditional and religions, death is viewed as a transition to the spirit world —the realm of ancestors— which is a significant aspect of the African worldview. For many communities, strict adherence to burial rites is essential, as it is believed to protect the surviving family members from bad omens.
A proper send-off is crucial, both to honour the deceased and to ensure they find peace in the afterlife. If burial rites are neglected, it is feared that the deceased may become a restless spirit, unable to settle in the afterlife and potentially causing harm to the living.
However, none of these local traditions involve the public parading of a body, as seen in the procession of the Mombasa tycoon’s remains.
Tudor MCA, Samir Bhaloo says what Kenyans witnessed on Sunday was purely in accordance with the Hindu funerals and the death rituals. Bhaloo notes that these practices highly depend on the family’s financial muscle. “What people witnessed was elaborate because the deceased was super wealthy. Otherwise in most cases, for those who are not in his position, you will find that the body is put in an ambulance and taken directly to the crematorium for cremation,” Bhaloo clarifies.
Ghee, honey milk birth
Online literature documenting Hinduism suggests that the faith is centred around reincarnation; the belief that when someone dies, the soul is reborn in a different form.
According to funeralpartners.co.uk, a website for a UK based funeral home, after death, Hindus believe that the physical body serves no purpose and, therefore, does not need to be preserved. They choose to cremate their loved ones as they believe it’s the quickest way to release the soul and help with reincarnation.
“Historically, Hindu cremations would take place on the Ganges River, India, and the family would carry the casket to the crematorium site. Nowadays, Hindus are cremated locally, and most funeral directors can accommodate the traditions and rituals of a Hindu cremation,” states the funeral services provider headquartered in the UK.
Traditionally, Hindu funeral rites take the form of chants or mantras, which are overseen by an officiant, usually a Hindu priest or the eldest son of the bereaved. They will gather the family and friends and lead them in the various Hindu death rituals, which include washing the body with ghee, honey, milk, and yoghurt, placing essential oils on the head of the deceased (turmeric for females, sandalwood for males), placing the palms in a position of prayer and tying the big toes together, dressing the deceased’s body in smart clothes (contemporary) or wrapping it in a white sheet (traditional), placing a garland of flowers and ‘pinda’ (rice balls) around their loved ones and putting a lamp near the head or sprinkling water on the body.
Feet first entry
According to Hindu death rituals, the body should remain at the funeral home until cremation – this is usually within 24 hours of the death. Due to the short time frame of Hindu cremation, embalming is considered unnecessary. It is customary for family and friends to visit the home of the bereaved to offer their sympathy. At the funeral, the casket is carried into the crematorium, feet first, while mourners recite prayers.
“An open casket displays the deceased, and guests are expected to view the body. This should be done respectfully and without touching the person who has died. A Hindu priest and senior family members conduct the cremation ceremony (‘mukhagni’).
Traditionally, the mukhagni is only attended by men, however, modern Hindu funerals allow women to attend. The day after a Hindu funeral, the ashes are scattered over a sacred body of water or a place of importance to the deceased,” the website reads.
Unlike other religions, black is considered inappropriate for a Hindu funeral. Instead, funeral etiquette is that mourners (both male and female) should dress in white. No head covering is required for either sex and open-toe shoes are also acceptable. Women should dress conservatively, covering their arms and knees.
“It is not common to bring gifts or flowers to the funeral, instead, they should be given to the family ahead of the ceremony. Food is also not part of Hindu custom. Traditionally, the Hindu mourning period ranges from 10 to 30 days. Throughout this time, families may display a picture of their loved one, adorned with a garland of flowers, somewhere in their house. Visitors are also welcome during this period,” the website states.
It further notes that on the 13th day of mourning, it’s common for the grieving family to hold a ceremony (‘preta-karma’) where they perform rituals to help release the soul of the deceased for reincarnation. Additionally, on the first anniversary of the death, the family hosts a memorial event that honours the life of their loved one.”
