Delta Mayor George Harvie recently put forward a motion at council for the city to investigate establishing a dedicated site for families scattering or immersing ashes of their loved ones into the river.
To be discussed at an upcoming council meeting, the motion notes it has been a long-standing request from the Indian Diaspora living in Delta for space on the Fraser River shoreline to be able to immerse ashes in the flowing water.
The Five River Management Services Society has identified the public trail network with access to the Fraser River, located in the Delta Link Business Park, as a suitable site.
Harvie is requesting staff investigate the suitability of Delta’s existing shoreline area of the trail connecting the business park to the river as a city site.
He is also requesting that the report from staff include costs to make suitable improvements to the shoreline area to accommodate the proposed shared use of the proposed location, as well as having the city manager consult with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs for possible grant opportunities.
A letter to Harvie from Lambar Rao, president of Five Rivers Management Services Society, explained that after cremation, Sikhs and Hindus typically scatter the ashes of a deceased loved one in a flowing body of water or a place of significance.
“Sikhs scatter the ashes to symbolize the souls return to its divine source. They often travel to Punjab to scatter the ashes in Kiratpur Sahib Gurdwara, a sacred place established by the gurus,” wrote Rao.
“After cremation in Hinduism there are several traditions related to ashes including immersion in holy water. A sacred ritual called Nirvapanjali involves the closest relatives immersing the ashes in holy water. This is done to symbolize the soul’s separation from the body and to help the soul rise to heaven.
Harvie’s motion was scheduled to be discussed at council’s Dec. 16 meeting but was deferred by council.
