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Last Rites: The Reason Why Jayalalithaa Is Being Buried And Not Cremated

Jayalalithaa, who passed away on Monday after a cardiac arrest, will be laid to rest next to her mentor and former chief minister MG Ramachandran, at the MGR memorial on Kamarajar Salai on Tuesday. The state government engaged JCB excavators to prepare the burial site.

There was confusion about the type of funeral the late chief minister will be given. Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s mortal remains will be buried, not cremated as per Hindu Brahmin ritual.

Also Read: Kamal Haasan’s Condolence Tweet Has Gone Wrong With Jayalalithaa’s Fans

Jayalalitha Last Rites:

J Jayalalithaa was a believer who used to pray regularly and be seen with an Iyengar Namam on her forehead. Still, why did the state government and the Sasikala family decide to bury her instead of a cremation, is the serious question in everyone’s head.

A senior government secretary who was part of the funeral preparations of the late chief minister explained why she cannot be cremated on Marina Beach.

“She was not an Iyengar for us,” he said. “She was beyond any caste or religious identity. Even most of all the Dravidian leaders, including Periyar, Anna Durai, and MGR, were all buried and we do not have a precedent of consigning their body to flames even after death. So, we bury them with sandalwood and rose water.”

A veteran political analyst who has seen burials of several Tamil Nadu leaders in the past four decades said: “Since she was a believer, it is obvious that people expect her being cremated after death. But they need a blood relative to light the funeral pyre. The only blood relative left for Jayalalithaa here is Deepa Jayakumar (daughter of Jayakumar, Jayalalithaa’s late brother). It is obvious that Sasikala clan doesn’t want to entertain Deepa anywhere near the funeral procession fearing a potential challenge,”.

Fans and followers believe they can still hear the sound of MGR’s watch ticking at the leader’s memorial on Marina Beach. The true followers of AMMA believe that she left her presence with them.

Also Read: The Reason Behind Delay In Jayalalithaa’s Death Announcement