The Burial Ritual (VI)

All the neighbors, families and relatives made a visit of condolence to the late father. We were all in a very deep sorrow and still couldn’t believe with what we’re experiencing that dad was gone forever, that he was no longer with us. The burial was planned at noontime. But we’re waiting for other very important families from Payakumbuh first to come, hopefully they would arrive before the burial.

The tent was raised in front of my house, the people seemed to prepare all the needs for burial, the board for which my dad’s name was written on, the equipments to be used for bathing my dad and “kain kafan” the white material cloth, cotton for covering my dad’s dead body were being prepared. Not long after that, my dad was bathed. I also participated to bathe my dad’s dead body. I would never forget that sob moment. Bathing the dead body before burial is a must in Muslim, except we die in a war as a “sahid” then it’s not obligatory to bath the dead.

The screaming was heard so loudly, my grand mother Sailana, my grand father Buya, my elder brother Epi, my dad’s older brother “pa’dang” uncle Arisman and my dad’s elder sister “ma’dang” aunt Rahmadani were stepping in the house, they flew directly from Padang by the earliest flight. .A few people seemed to hold my grand mother and walked her in. she just couldn’t be quiet, she was struggling and screaming very hard. Seeing that moment would maker everyone cry in tears, me too I was so sad and still couldn’t stop crying

People still came and went from my house to pay their condolences. Also my friends and teachers from school came to my house. I really couldn’t hide my sadness that clearly showed from my face, they also looked sad and tried to give sympathy to me. My teachers approached and hugged me and tried to cheer me up and gave their affection. I even couldn’t say a word to my friends and teachers but cried. In a minute my late dad would be taken to the mosque, which was located right in front of my house, but before that all members of the families were given a very last chance to see my late dad’s face and kiss him on his cheek or forehead. We could clearly see the smiling was radiating from my late dad’s face, which tells he was gone peacefully. My mom came forward to kiss my late dad, my uncles, aunts, me and the others. My grand mother Sailana (Ana) was the last person who kissed my dad as she never stopped crying that she wouldn’t be allowed to kiss with tears on her eyes. We believe that one must not kiss the dead with tears in one’s eyes because it’s not good for the dead. My late father was claimed the most beloved son of his mother.

After my late dad’s body was covered by “kain kafan then the body was taken to the mosque to be prayed. My grand father H. Djamarun Rasyad (Buya) led the prayer. All of the families and neighbors took the pray. After the pray the body was taken by the ambulance. I could see a very long convoy of cars accompanying the ambulance to the public graveyard in Sodong Jl. Layur East Jakarta. We arrived there at about 3 PM, my late dad’s body was ready to be put in the grave hole. There were several rituals to follow before the body was buried. There were also some prayers and speeches along the process. The body was buried, the soil was piled up in several heaps. Each of the family had their turn to sow the jasmine flowers on the grave soil. The ritual was finished, one by one we left the grave and left our late beloved father alone. “REST IN PEACE MY DAD AND MAY GOD PROTECT YOU AND PLACE YOU IN THE BEST PLACE ON HIS SIDE AND GO TO HEAVEN, BYE MY DAD”

to be continued...