The corona pandemic has not just unleashed a dance of death but changed our traditions and belief systems related to death.
The death feasts are avoided while many rituals are not performed, including obituary meetings.Programme like Asthi Bisarjan as per Garuda Puran is also not observed by most of the persons, said Pandit Radheshyam Pujari of Jharsuguda Sources said these days, Brahmins are not coming to bless the persons with tilak and chandan for the death of their kith and kin. As donation, Brahmins are given masks and sanitiser in corona period. Instead of doing Brahman Bhojan to a group of pandits, now only one pandit is being fed in the last rites ceremony. The March 15 2020 guidelines, issued by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, said the family members could see the face of the deceased before the last rites, and all rituals that don’t need contact are permitted.
The guidelines also say that the number of people performing autopsies, involved in preparing the body and those conducting the burial must also be kept at minimum and they must wear appropriate protective gears to stay safe.One Jagdananand Tripathi of Brajrajnagar said that after demise of his father, he invited 12 pandits for "Brahman Bhoj" after last rites ceremony. However, only three to of four pandits and invitees came for the event.During Corona period, the system of "Brahman Bhoj" has been completely changed.
Instead of this, tiffins are either sent to residence of Brahmans or one of them receives tiffins for the total Brahmans invited. Some families give portions of Brahman Bhoj to cows or poor persons as well. Earlier, getting death news, about 100 to 200 relatives were gathering in the house of the departed person. Now, large gathering has been replaced by prayer from individual houses. Now, instead of doing "Asthi Bisarjan" in river Ganga, people are doing the same in nearby rivers, said Pandit Alok Mishra. Senior priest Manoj Mishra said, "During corona period, old traditions need not be followed.
Scriptures also suggest that during natural calamities traditions have no relevance. Hence, there is a change in traditions and systems during corona regime.
Instead of Brahma Bhoj, cows are fed as they are treated as the residence of all Gods and Goddess."