#Asian Funerals in Wimbledon

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Everything You Should Know About the Professional Hindu Funeral Service London

Death is the ultimate truth, and no one can escape its claws. However, families have to perform funeral rituals when someone dies in their family. Though this is the most painful moment, as relatives, it is our duty to maintain such piousness. With a professional Hindu funeral service in London, the task becomes easier. Here is all about the Hindu funeral service.

Hindu Death Rituals

Hinduism believes in reincarnation. It means that once the death happens, the sound of the person leaves the body and never returns to it; however, it travels to another body, which is known as the birth of a baby. This is the reason the dead body gets burned at the crematorium. Since the process is complex and there are certain rituals that have to be followed in different beliefs, it is important to know the exact death rituals in Hinduism.

Washing- The ritual starts by washing the body with several ingredients like milk, honey, yogurt, and ghee.

Applying Essential Oils-  Applying essential oils is another part of the ritual. Sandalwood mainly applied for men and turmeric for women.

Dressing- No dead body left naked till it is on the fire. A simple white cloth sheet is worn to the person who has died. There are some stylish and pricy clothes are also used to perform this ritual.

Flowers and Rice- In some funeral process, the attendees are allowed to place a garland of flowers and rice balls around the loved once. Several leaves like basil also used to adorn the body.

Lighting Lamp- Lamp is important to place near the head as it signifies the purity and assists the safe journey of the soul.

Sprinkling Water- Sprinkling water on the body is a symbol of cleansing the dead body, and it is part of the ritual.

Conducting Hindu Cremation Process

According to the scriptures, the cremation should be done as soon as possible. It is ideal to take place within the first day. Meanwhile, friends and family come to the home to offer their last respects, and then the cremation process starts.

While carrying the body to the crematorium, it is important to bring the body from the side of the feet. Priests and mourners recite hymns that are believed to make the path of liberation easier for the deceased person.

Hindu funeral is complex and there are a number of rituals to follow. Asian Funeral Services offers professional Hindu funeral service London that can mitigate the hassle of funeral of your loved one. Avail of this service to simplify the process!

Resource: https://asianfuneral.wordpress.com/2024/06/22/everything-you-should-know-about-the-professional-hindu-funeral-service-london/

[historybehindassassinscreed]

In Game:

Duleep Singh was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and the youngest son of Ranjit Singh, ruling from 1843 to 1846. He was also an associate of, and great-uncle to, the Assassin Henry Green.

In 1868, Duleep was asked by his great-nephew, Henry Green, to procure architectural plans of Buckingham Palace. However, he was foiled in this endeavor, as the schematics had already been obtained by men in the employ of Crawford Starrick. Duleep subsequently told Henry, and his acquaintance Evie Frye, where the plans had been taken, so they could get them back.

Ultimately, Henry and Evie did not succeed in acquiring the schematics, leading the latter to contact Duleep again later on. Passionate as he was about returning to his home country, the Maharaja bartered with Evie; in exchange for her help in recruiting politicians to his cause, Duleep would tell her where she could find copies of the plans she sought.

In between escorting politicians to their destinations, Duleep spoke with Evie on a variety of topics, including his attempts at returning to India, her parents and her relationship with Henry. After bringing William Ewart Gladstone, who had been quite abrasive during his conversation with the Maharaja, to the Sinopean Club, Duleep told Evie that the plans she sought were located in the White Drawing Room in Buckingham Palace. The two then bid each other goodbye.

Singh was later aided by Evie and her brother Jacob in his quest to reclaim his birthright as Maharaja.

In Real Life:

Maharaja Duleep Singh later in life nicknamed the Black Prince of Perthshire, was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, was born on September 6th, 1838. He was Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s youngest son, the only child of Maharani Jind Kaur.

After the death of his father in 1839, Duleep Singh lived quietly with his mother, Jind Kaur, at Jammu, under the protection of the Vizier, Raja Dhian Singh. He and his mother were recalled to Lahore in 1843 after the assassinations of Maharaja Sher Singh and Dhian Singh, and on 16 September, at the age of five, Duleep Singh was proclaimed Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, with Maharani Jind Kaur as Regent.

On December 13th, 1845, when Duleep was six, the British declared war on the Sikhs and, after winning the First Anglo-Sikh War, retained the Maharaja as nominal ruler, but replaced the Maharani by a Council of Regency and later imprisoned and exiled her. Over thirteen years passed before Duleep Singh was permitted to see his mother again.

After the close of the Second Anglo-Sikh War and the subsequent annexation of the Punjab on March 29th, 1849, he was deposed at the age of ten and was put into the care of Dr John Login and sent from Lahore to Fatehgarh on December 21st, 1849, with tight restrictions on who he was allowed to meet. No Indians, except trusted servants, could meet him in private. As a matter of British policy, he was to be anglicised in every possible respect. His health was reportedly poor and he was often sent to the hill station of Landour near Mussoorie in the Lower Himalaya for convalescence, at the time about 4 days’ journey. He would remain for weeks at a time in Landour at a grand hilltop building called The Castle, which had been lavishly furnished to accommodate him.

In 1853, under the tutelage of his long-time retainer Bhajan Lal (himself a Christian convert), he converted to Christianity at Fatehgarh with the approval of the Governor-General Lord Dalhousie. His conversion remains controversial, and it occurred before he turned 15. He later had serious doubts and regrets regarding this decision and reconverted to Sikhism in 1886.

Duleep Singh’s arrival on the shores of England in late 1854 threw him into the European court. Queen Victoria showered affection upon the turbaned Maharaja, as did the Prince Consort. Duleep Singh was initially lodged at Claridge’s Hotel in London before the East India Company took over a house in Wimbledon and then eventually another house in Roehampton which became his home for three years. He was also invited by the Queen to stay with the Royal Family at Osborne, where she sketched him playing with her children and Prince Albert photographed him, while the court artist, Winterhalter, made his portrait.

(Image source)

He eventually got bored with Roehampton and expressed a wish to go back to India but it was suggested by the East India Company Board he take a tour of the European continent which he did with Sir John Spencer Login and Lady Login. He was a member of the Photographic Society, later Royal Photographic Society from 1855 until his death.

On his return from Europe in 1855 he was given an annual pension, and was officially under ward of Sir John Spencer Login and Lady Login, who leased Castle Menzies in Perthshire, Scotland, for him. He spent the rest of his teens there but at 19 he demanded to be in charge of his household. Eventually, he was given this and an increase in his annual pension.

When he was 18, Singh wrote to his mother in Kathmandu, suggesting that she should join him in England, but his letter was intercepted by the British in India and did not reach her. He then sent a courier, Pundit Nehemiah Goreh, who was also intercepted and forbidden to contact the Maharani. Duleep Singh then decided to go himself. Under cover of a letter from Login he wrote to the British Resident in Kathmandu, who reported that the Rani had ‘much changed, was blind and had lost much of the energy which formerly characterised her.’ The British decided she was no longer a threat and she was allowed to join her son on January 16th, 1861 at Spence’s Hotel in Calcutta and return with him to England.

While in exile, he sought to learn more about Sikhism and was eager to return to India. Though previous efforts were thwarted by his handlers, he reestablished contact with his cousin Sardar Thakar Singh Sandhawalia, who on 28 September 1884, left Amritsar for England along with his sons Narinder Singh and Gurdit Singh and a Sikh granthi (priest), Pratap Singh Giani. He also brought a list of properties held by Duleep Singh in India. All this renewed his connection with Sikhism.

The British Government decided in 1886 against his return to India or his re-embracing Sikhism. Despite protests from the India Office, he set sail for 'home’ on 30 March 1886. However, he was intercepted and arrested in Aden, where the writ of the Governor General of India began. He could not be stopped from an informal re-conversion ceremony in Aden, far less grand and symbolic than it would have been in India, done by emissaries sent by Sardar Thakar Singh Sandhawalia, who was earlier planning the Pahaul ceremony at Bombay. Duleep was forced to return to Europe.

(Image source)

Duleep Singh died in Paris in 1893 at the age of 55, having seen India after the age of fifteen during only two brief, tightly-controlled visits in 1860 (to bring his mother to England) and in 1863 (to cremate his mother’s body).

Duleep Singh’s wish for his body to be returned to India was not honored, in fear of unrest, given the symbolic value the funeral of the son of the Lion of the Punjab might have caused and the growing resentment of British rule. His body was brought back to be buried according to Christian rites, under the supervision of the India Office in Elveden Church beside the grave of his wife Maharani Bamba, and his son Prince Edward Albert Duleep Singh. The graves are located on the west side of the Church.

Sources:

https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/trails/black-and-asian-history-and-victorian-britain/maharaja-duleep-singh-and-family

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duleep_Singh

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/maharaja-dalip-singh/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28106083

[dulwichdiverter]

Magnificent Munir

By Mark McGinlay and Kate White

Photo Lima Charlie  

Munir Hassan was 17 when he moved from Pakistan to England in 1965. “Oh gosh, it was a lovely time to come,” he says when we meet at Tandoori Nights, his restaurant on Lordship Lane, where he is celebrating 25 years in business this year.

“I always had a dream of coming to England. Then a few months later it was the World Cup and we won. Everyone was up, enjoying themselves. I didn’t take it seriously at the time – I thought to myself, ‘It’s only football’,” he laughs. “Now I realise how important it is here.”

Upon his arrival in England, the young Munir spent a couple of months living in Bradford, but after visiting a relative in London, he quickly realised the capital was where he wanted to be.

“The majority of people in Bradford in our community were quite old,” he says of his decision to move down south. “I came to see one of my cousins in London and I realised, ‘Wow, this is very different.’”

Munir’s first job in 1960s London was at the Taj Mahal restaurant in Putney, which is still open today. He then gained a qualification in hotel and catering management in Bristol before joining the restaurant at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch.

While there he met a “very nice chap who told me that he’d got an Indian restaurant in Chelsea”, he says. “I started working for him as a trainee maître d’ and he was quite pleased with me. He said to me, ‘You’ve got potential as a restaurateur.’”

The company ran two restaurants: Tandoori of Chelsea and Tandoori of Mayfair, which was located on the corner of Shepherd Market and Curzon Street. “It was an amazing time,” Munir says. “We had many famous people come in.”

In 1984 Munir opened his own restaurant called India of Mayfair on Hertford Street, near the legendary Tiddy Dols eating house. Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton and Lindsay Wagner all dined there, as did George Best. “George Best was really a very nice man,” Munir says.

“He used to drink quite a lot and sometimes if he wanted more drink after midnight, half past midnight when we were ready to go home, he’d say, ‘Come on guys, join us!’ And he would buy everybody a drink. Because he was nice, nobody minded staying an extra hour for him.”  

By this point Munir was also running a successful restaurant in Tooting, but as he approached his 40th birthday, he decided it was time to take on a new challenge. “There was a very good friend of mine who I’d known since we were 19, 20 years old,” he says.

“We went on holiday to Spain together and he had an idea. He said, ‘We should open a restaurant, you know. We should open an Indian restaurant here, because at the moment there is nothing.’”

“On the flight back home, I said to my wife, ‘I’m coming back again next week.’ She said, ‘What for?’ I said, ‘John and I are buying a restaurant.’ She said, ‘Don’t be silly, you’ve got a restaurant in London, what’s going to happen to that?’ I said, ‘Oh, you know, let’s go and try it.’”

John and Munir opened their new restaurant in the coastal resort of Puerto Rico on Gran Canaria. “We were the first Indian restaurant on the whole of Gran Canaria,” says Munir, “and we were called Tandoori Nights.”

The venture was a success and it was an “amazing place to live”, but in the late 1980s Munir decided to return to London so his sons could go to school in England. He continued running his restaurants in Tooting and Mayfair before a twist of fate brought him to East Dulwich.

“I came to East Dulwich by coincidence,” he says. “My chef got very drunk and no minicabs or anybody would take him. I’d never been to this side of London, but I had no option but to drive him here and drop him off.

“He was giving me directions – he said, ‘Go to the roundabout, get onto Lordship Lane, take the turning on the right and that will take you straight down to Brixton.’ I missed the turning, drove past here and saw an Asian guy I knew.”

After arranging to meet his friend, Munir discovered he was having a “tough time” running his restaurant on Lordship Lane and he struck a deal to buy the place. He closed the premises for a two-month refurbishment and opened it as Tandoori Nights at the end of 1993.

“I came here not having very high expectations – people were telling me it’s not such a brilliant area,” he says. “But I could see that it was a nice little place, there were lovely properties around and the people I spoke to were nice.

“To be fair the first few months were slow, but once people found out what we did, how good the food was, the people of Dulwich were very good to us. We kept our side of the bargain by making good food, and the majority kept coming.”

Since then, Munir has transformed Tandoori Nights into one of East Dulwich’s best-loved restaurants. “It’s wonderful that people appreciate what we do,” he says. “Sometimes I feel [25 years in business] is not because of me, it’s because of the people who have kept us going. I want to say thank you to them.”

To reach the quarter of a century milestone in such a notoriously difficult industry is undoubtedly a big achievement. “Especially for someone as old as me,” jokes Munir, who turns 70 in August this year.

“A lot of my regular customers, when they walk in I feel like they’re coming into my house and I enjoy it. I’ve got a really good team and the nice thing is, when you enjoy it and you’ve got a smile on your face, age doesn’t really matter, does it?”

In addition to using top quality ingredients – “we buy special quality meat and it’s all British” – what makes Tandoori Nights’ food so excellent is its remarkable consistency. Its head chef is Munir’s nephew, who has been at the restaurant since day one.

“He’s the son of my oldest brother, who was very well-known,” Munir says. “He was an English teacher in a school [in Pakistan] and was very well-respected and well-liked. A lot of top brasses like colonels and generals’ kids used to come for tuition from him.

“My brother passed away in 1981 and I went back home for his funeral. My sister-in-law said, ‘Please take him with you, he’s given up his studies, he’s not doing anything. You will probably make his future.’

“I brought him here in 1981 and luckily he was interested in food and quite keen on it. He worked with some good chefs of mine, he got trained and he’s been here since this restaurant opened.”

Munir met his wife while studying for his catering qualification in Bristol and after getting married, the couple bought a “lovely little house” in Kingston in 1975. “It was not a time when one should have mixed marriages, but we pulled through it,” he says.

“When you were not settled, not part of the mainstream, it was difficult to rent apartments, so the first thing we did was buy a house. We didn’t want to be put in a situation where we were reliant on other people.”

After three or four years in Kingston, the couple decided to expand their family and moved to a bigger house  in Wimbledon in 1980, where they have lived ever since. He says his wife has been instrumental in his success.

“I can’t really emphasise enough how important my wife has been to my family; how important she’s been to my success, because sometimes you need a very strong person behind you.”

Choosing to open a restaurant on Lordship Lane was the best business decision he has made, he says. “This restaurant is the best one I’ve ever had – better than Chelsea, Mayfair.

“Because of the independent businesses, a lot of people travel to Lordship Lane. People come from Beckenham, Forest Hill, even Clapham, because they’ve got a choice of good restaurants, good places to eat, good places to drink. It’s a real destination.”

Nevertheless, rising rents in the area are a threat, he says. “If you look at somewhere like Peckham even 15, 20 years ago, you could rent a shop for maybe less than £10,000. Now it’s £60,000, £70,000, £80,000.

“Lordship Lane became a chic place because of the individual businesses here. If those places start going out of business because they can’t afford to stay, unfortunately the street will suffer.”

Despite 25 years on Lordship Lane and more than half a century in the restaurant industry, Munir’s energy, enthusiasm and passion for the job remain undimmed and he is clearly not a man to rest on his laurels.

Fans of Tandoori Nights will be excited to know that he has recently added a new dimension to the business by joining up with Deliveroo, so those looking for their curry fix can have dinner delivered straight from Tandoori Nights to their door.  

The genuinely warm and friendly welcome that Munir gives to everyone dining in his restaurant is surely another reason that Tandoori Nights has survived and thrived for as long as it has.

“I always say to my boys in our meetings, ‘You’re only as good as your last meal,’” he says. “Sometimes it annoys them – they say, ‘You say that every time.’ And I say ‘Yes, I keep reminding you.’ You put a little doubt in people’s mind, that’s when things go wrong.

“I’ve got enough experience behind me where if somebody is not happy with something, I can straightaway see it and put it right,” he adds. “It’s always nice to see people leaving with a smile.”

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Discover compassionate Indian funeral directors near me, offering understanding and support during challenging times. We are committed to honoring cultural traditions and delivering personalized services that reflect the unique customs of the Indian community. Contact us today! For more information, you can call us at 020 8909 3737 or 07737 051232.

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Rituals Involves With Tamil Funeral Service Kenton

Tamils are deeply rooted in their culture no matter where they are. They follow their unique funeral rituals after the death of their family members. Since their beliefs blend with ancient customs and thousands of years of practice, the Tamil funeral service Kenton follows the same during the final rites of their loved ones. The funeral process involves several stages, each with its specific customs and symbolic meanings.

Here is all about the funeral process.

Preparing the Body for Last Rites

Tamils believe that the body should be treated well for the final journey. Therefore, the body gets a bath, and after that, turmeric and sandalwood paste are applied to the forehead. The dead body is adorned with traditional attire. If the deceased has been married, then the women dress up in colored sarees along with traditional jewelry that shows their marital status.

After these initial processes are done, the body is laid down on the ground, facing the head in the south direction. This is because it is believed that the south is associated with Yama, the god of death in Hinduism. By facing the body towards the south, the soul can start the journey towards liberation.

Preparation for Funeral Ceremony

Funeral rituals are started by the priest or the eldest family member. He starts by invoking deities and ancestors to seek blessings for the deceased person. Various items like flowers, rice, and water are required to please the soul and deities. During this time, a string is tied on both toes to keep them together, which indicates the body is ready for the final journey. After that, the entire body is covered with a white cloth while the face remains open.

After the body is prepared, family, relatives and friends gather to show the last respects. The last rites have to perform by the eldest son or the close relative. The final ritual starts by placing a lamp and water near the head which symbolizes the light and purity. Sometimes, priest asks to place a coin on the dead body’s mouth which symbolizes the payment for the soul’s journey to the afterlife.

Cremation Rituals

During this ritual, the body is kept on the bier and carried to the cremation ground in a family-led procession. The priest chants the sacred texts to guide the soul during the process.

At the cremation ground, the body is kept on the pyre while facing the head towards the south. After that, the elder son or any close male relative circles the body three times and then places the fire on the mouth of the body. Tamil funeral process is complex and needs attention to detail. Asian Funeral Services offers Tamil funeral service Kenton following all the tradition and rituals. With years of experience, this service can lessen the hassle of cremation of the deceased.

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Looking for the best Tamil funeral services in Croydon? Look no further! With a commitment to cultural sensitivity and professionalism, our expert team strives to provide solace and comfort during the grieving process. Our best Tamil funeral services come within your budget range. For more information, you can call us at 020 8909 3737 or 07737 051232.

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Top Reasons to Hire Professional Tamil Funeral Services in Mitcham

Death is inevitable and the most painful part of life for relatives and family members. However, in this difficult time, it is important to carry out the funeral of the deceased with dignity and respect. When it comes to the Tamil community, the funeral becomes a significant event that family members have to carry out. Since most of the family members can't handle the funeral rituals properly in this emotionally difficult hour, it is important to hire professional Tamil funeral services in Mitchamto conduct the process in accordance with the tradition. Here are all the advantages of this service.

Deep Insights on Culture and Tradition

When you hire a professional Tamil funeral service, you can rest assured that they are well-versed in the Tamil culture, tradition, and other necessary religious practices that are important aspects of the funeral service. It is important to conduct funeral services in accordance with cultural beliefs and traditions, and these professionals know them very well.

Funeral Arrangements

Organizing the funeral is a hectic job for the family members, especially in this difficult hour. It needs to arrange the transportation while coordinating with the religious leaders to apply for the necessary permits and documents. These complex tasks are handled by the funeral professionals while easing the burden on the family members who are in deep shock due to the demise of their loved one.

Customized Service

Every Tamil family follows a unique tradition, and when you hire a professional Tamil funeral service, they first recognize the importance of customized customs while respecting the deceased. They work closely with the family and understand their unique requirements. Whether it is selecting proper floral arrangements or coordinating with religious leaders, professional service providers know how to make a meaningful and customized funeral experience.

Support During this Difficult Hour

Losing a loved one is the most difficult hour for the family. When you hire professional funeral services, they not only assist you in performing the funeral activities but also assist you in coming out from this emotionally difficult hour. They know how to make you feel comfortable and help you recover early.

Legal Compliance and Preparing Documentation

Meeting the legal requirements and preparing the documentation is another crucial part of the funeral process. Since it is complex and time-consuming, many people need to meet all these parameters at the right time. This is where the funeral service providers come to the rescue from this grief condition. They assist in obtaining death certificates and completing the necessary paperwork for the cremation; they handle all these documents efficiently.

You have plenty of advantages when hiring Tamil funeral services in Mitcham. Asian Funeral Service assists you to cremate your loved one with utmost respect and dignity respectfully.

Resource: https://asianfuneral.wordpress.com/2024/04/15/top-reasons-to-hire-professional-tamil-funeral-services-in-mitcham/

[asianfuneralservices]

Are you hiring Tamil funeral directors in Uxbridge? Count on us for reliable services. We have been in this particular industry for many years thus ensuring all your concerns are covered efficiently. We make every arrangement for this funeral. For more information, you can call us at 020 8909 3737 or 07737 051232.

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Are you seeking an Indian Funeral Service in Wandsworth? Welcome to Asian Funeral Services. With a wealth of experience and expertise in this service, we ensure excellent Indian Funeral Services. We understand the client’s concern and their sentiment. For more information, you can call us at 020 8909 3737 or 07737 051232.