Five daughters light dad’s pyre in Dungarpur

UDAIPUR: While it is seen unusual for women to participate in cremation rituals as per the Hindu customs, five daughters shouldered their father's bier to the cremation ground and performed the rituals.
Defying the age-old tradition of performing last rites only by son, the five sisters took the mortal remains of their father to the cremation ground to perform the last rites on Saturday evening at Navalshyam village in Dungarpur district.
The daughters performed the last rite of ‘mukhagni’ and lit the funeral pyre of their father Karulal Trivedi who had died after a long illness.
“Our father was proud of us and never thought of us any less than a son. We will perform all rituals of shradh as per the tradition,” said Nirmala, the eldest daughter. Her other sisters, Chandrakanta, Jayshree, Neeta, and Surekha also took part in the rituals during the funeral. “We are proud of our parents who always encouraged us, and never pined for a son,” said Neeta, adding that the daughters have all right to perform the last rites of their father in the same way as a son would have done it. The relatives and well-wishers of the family extended their support.