The word cemetery derives from the Latin word coemeterium which means dormitory, and the first cemeteries date from the period of 10,000 years BC (Neckel et al., 2017). All living organisms, be they humans, animals or tiny living creatures, must face dreaded death. Death is ultimately a part of the evolution or a natural process. There are many beliefs, cultural practices and methods to dispose of their dead family member. Religious and social attitudes determine how elaborate the burial should be. For example they may decide if the body is placed in the shallow trench of a simple burial or an underground chamber of impressive dimensions and construction.
Death is a topic which is dreaded initially and no one bothers. From time immemorial, traditional methods have been used and the dead were finally laid to rest by earth burial and cremation or water burial. However, the beliefs in religions allowed them to adapt to practices which have to be strictly followed. For instance, Muslims and Christians prefer to bury, on the other hand, due to the lack of area allocated for such a site fully used, the option then was either to use the same site by paying or buy the site as an option. Due to increasing deaths among the population due to many reasons such as wars, pandemic suicides and natural deaths, change has been observed such as mass burials or the use of crematoriums gas chambers, which has recently been introduced in Fiji. The demand is ever increasing for the use of new user-friendly technology. Among certain religious beliefs e.g. in Jainism, the body is placed by exposing them to the carrion-consuming birds and animals. According to research, there are a few methods which have been prominent over decades, in-ground burial; above-ground, burial in a lawn crypt (same site); and above-ground in a private mausoleum and the natural burial.
Burial and cremation in Fiji
Burial and Cremation law in Fiji is Cap 117, which was enacted in 1941 and several amendments had been made until 1974. The main legislative body responsible for granting approval for a license for a public or private burial ground or a crematorium is the Central Board of Health of the Ministry of Health. The Chief Health Inspector is responsible for taking charge of all burial grounds in all divisions in Fiji (Section 6(1), Cap 117). In addition, there are also other government departments and authorised officials to seek approval if a person has died, including the Ministry of Health (doctors, midwives), Police, District Officers, and Commissioner of Prisons including the Register of Birth, Death and Marriages. There are officials appointed to ensure burials are conducted in the family’s faith, hence a clergyman or religious leader to perform the final rites at the funeral site. Finally, a death certificate has to be obtained from the Register of Birth Death and Marriages as a legal document for other needy requirements.
Impacts of burial of dead
bodies in the environment
There are many private and public-approved burial grounds in divisions/districts, and the government controls many in major divisions controlled by the managers. The management committee of the district is responsible for day-to-day operations. Some have their family-approved burial cemetery. There are charges to be paid for using the sites for the burial or cremation of the dead at the public burial grounds. The charges are regulated under the laws. Unlike the normal fees levied, the gas chambers or cremation have higher charges, so it is like a business. Currently, there are only two gas chambers in Fiji. However, the funeral industry has drawn attention from the scientific community concerning the potential pollution of the environment and the urban environment due to the use of traditional burial grounds. The burial of human bodies over several decades leads to the production of ions, in the form of organic and heavy metals, it is further contaminated by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that spread along with the soil and underwater. It is further exacerbated by the use of many medicines, drugs and other medications as people age and die. The crematoria release particles of trace gases (SOx, NOx, CO), and toxic organic volatiles. Many burial sites are on flat ground, and during rainy days, burial becomes difficult and the corpse disintegrates rapidly, as such pollutants from the decaying bodies enter into streams and waterways and cause havoc to the ecosystem such as toxic organic/inorganic contaminants (TOCs). Research has revealed that traditional burial method directly affects the soil and underground water, due to the leachates, and as necro slurry. It carries several pollutants, from organic ions (e.g. nitrate, sulfates), to inorganic ions (e.g. As, Fe, Cu, Cs. Pb, etc), bacteria, and viruses (e.g. Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Streptococcus faecalis, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium. These pathogens can cause a lot of diseases to those who may use the stream or river for recreation, or catch resources from the contaminated waters. The impact of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), is extremely toxic and shows toxicity to the nervous system, kidneys and reproductive system and continuous exposure may lead to kidney damage and even death. Arsenic (As) presence in the contaminated water causes poisoning to the blood, central nervous system, lung and skin cancer, breathing problems, vomiting and nausea. The heavy metals have been associated with cancers and other concerns on human health. Further, exposure to lead causes irreversible brain damage and encephalopathic symptoms. High-level exposure to copper causes nose, eyes and mouth irritation and may cause nausea and diarrhoea. Copper is also toxic to various aquatic organisms even at very low levels. From the earlier days, the methods of burials have been revamped due to many reasons such as taking time to revisit the cemetery at a certain time and carry out improvements to monuments or visiting to pray and clean the graveyard. There are other costs to add to such as paying ground rates and providing tablets and decorations. So the trend has been changed to use the gas crematorium to dispose of the dead ones with added costs and finally take the ash on the following day.
Use of gas technology –
cremation
The traditional method of burial and cremation was followed over many centuries by the use of greener pyres and, cutting down millions of trees, with many concerns about air pollution and other environmental impacts. There have been restrictions on the presence of females in the Hindu cemetery for funeral services. Moreover, the use of new technology by use of gas at a well-constructed crematorium allows many families and friends to observe the final rites. It has other advantages to see the deceased on videos or by live-streaming and also those who are in attendance. The building can accommodate a few hundred sympathisers in the air-conditioned crematorium. Despite the cost being high, however, it becomes easy to have a good view of the funeral service from a close range. The high temperature used to cremate may range from 600 to 1200 °C, whereas cremation time was monitored. The deceased is then wheeled into the machine and it takes a few hours to burn the body completely. The ash is sieved to remove any foreign substances such as wedding rings, and jewellery. The family of the deceased may collect the ash for further rituals.
Preparation for burial
It is painful to go through such an emotional trauma at the time of the death of a close one, a family or even a neighbour. A responsible person in a family has to go through a lengthy process to get all the necessary clearances before the deceased may be finally allowed to be taken to a burial site. It includes the medical doctor, death certificate, and police clearance for burial, organising the funeral director, and informing the radio station after consulting the family about the date and time of burial or cremation. In the meantime, shopping has to be done for the family, and other needs before interment. It also requires consulting close relatives and confirming all the arrangements made and others to be organised. A considerable amount of expenses is incurred from the time of death and include preparation for the shed by hiring roofing materials or hiring a company to build the temporary shed, chairs, providing catering for food for the sympathisers, charges for live streaming, crematorium, bus and hearse, and morgue charges. Other additional costs include gifts for the priest or maulvi/pundit, kava, and hiring the Kirtan and Bhajan (hymns) singers among the Hindus. In addition, there are a few additional post-burial rites among all the religious sects such as among Christians, Muslims, Hindus and others, ranging from a few days/months to a year’s end observations. There will be additional expenses at the time of the annual event as the last ritual to observe amongst all the religions. However, the choice may differ depending on family preferences. It is also observed as a mark of respect that invitation is not given to anyone during the funeral day. Moreover, for observation of other death rituals close families will be invited.
At present support is provided by families, friends, employees (staff), and employers, to the affected family. The idea is to help support in any manner and is always a welcome gesture. On this note, the management of gas cremation at Nausori has been informed, to identify any poor person, should there be no family support, any such person will be cremated at the gas chamber at no cost, provided the body is brought to the cemetery at Raralevu. The first gas crematorium in Fiji was constructed about three years ago by the Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabah Rewa Branch, at Raralevu, Nausori. In this modern time when everyone is concerned about climate change and air pollution, it is incumbent to use modern technology to dispose of human bodies by use of gas which is environment friendly, convenient in many ways and provides more relief to the users, except to pay the costs. It is good to learn that the Government may assist any organisation that wishes to construct gas chambers in any location with support from the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs.
Conclusion
In such a time of great loss, everyone as close families may lose all hope and are mentally disturbed. The pain and suffering cannot be measured in any manner, however, it is generally believed that chanting prayers at the time of post-burial rites may give solace to the departed soul. So it is inevitable that deaths may occur to everyone and the reality is that all must be prepared to face the wrath of the almighty at any time. Any person with property must make a will to ensure property will be in safe hands upon death. So be prepared to face it as it befalls not knowing when! Be blessed to live long.
n KESHWA NAND KRISHNA is a retired public health lecturer at the Fiji National University. The views expressed in this article are his and not necessarily of this newspaper.
