158 Abode of Gods
holds fire in hand in the form of burning faggots, followed by
women and then the bier and finally the villagers carrying fuel
for the cremation which is held by the side of the stream. At the
pyre, the clothes belonging to the deceased are placed among the
faggots to be burnt and the corpse is placed in such a way that it
faces the east. Before it is burnt, the cloth bag is slit and a
piece of precious metal put into the mouth of the deceased, to
ensure that the corpse is purified.
On the following day, some people proceed to the burning
place and collect bones of the deceased, which are taken to a
place in the village where the bones of dead persons are interned.
Water and flowers are sprinkled on the ground by the girl and a
hole is dug in the ground where bones are interned with its
case and in the words of Sherring "After this, four corners, four
feet apart, like boundary pillars, and the tops are joined by three
threads of different colours, i.e. red, white and yellow. Next,
immediately above the interned bones, a forked stick is placed in
the ground, from one end is suspended a gourd fall of water.
Below the gourd is a place with flour covered with butter, and
as there is a small hole in the bottom of the gourd, water drops
continuously on the food beneath." The idea behind this cere-
mony is that the spirit of the departed should not suffer from
thirst or hunger. The same night, a funeral feast is given and a
special provision of food is made for the departed person.
Dhurang ceremony
The last ceremony is Dhurang, also known as Gwan ceremony.
This ceremony was universally performed among all the Bhotias
in the past but Hindu influence has eliminated it among some of
them, particularly among Bhotias of Niti, Mana and Johar. In
this ceremony an animal plays a prominent part, sometimes a
Yak or Jhibbu is chosen, or a goat or sheep. The forehead,
back and tail of the animal is marked white, the sex of the animal
represents the sex of the deceased. An old man who is supposed
to have mystic powers, and who is aquainted with future life is
present. It is his duty to instruct the spirit of the deceased to do
or not to do certain things which would ensure that it reached
heaven.
I witnessed this elaborate ceremony being performed at Gunji,