It may sometimes be very overwhelming when losing a loved one. More so, when the same is at such a hard time. During the moment of grief, the fulfillment of their final wishes becomes a holy task. An inspiring act took place in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu by a family. The same family made the woman’s funeral a celebration with her as she had requested it in the last moments.
Nagammal, 96, the widow of temple priest Paramathadevar from Usilampatti, breathed her last. Before death, she made a very different demand: Nagammal wanted her funeral to be a dance of songs, not a funeral with tears. The widow of Paramathadevar left behind three generations of descendants – two sons, four daughters, and 78 grandchildren – and was always a reason for fun for them.
As her death approached, Nagammal wished for her grand funeral with her family relatives performing for her, thereby celebrating her life. She wished to be remembered with all the happiness by her family. It was indeed granted to them as they had planned for a lively and jovial farewell replete with traditional folk music and dances including the Kummi dance done by women from the village, and even the littlest in the family came up and performed.
96 வயதில் காலமான பாட்டியின் ஆசையை நிறைவேற்ற பேரன் பேத்திகள் செய்த ஏற்பாடு..!#Madurai | #OldLady | #Death | #Dance pic.twitter.com/cxk7VfN7bG
— Polimer News (@polimernews) December 20, 2024
What started as a serious funeral ended up being a lively celebration, almost like a fair in a village. The family members, from her grandkids to great-grandkids, all said their goodbyes to Nagammal according to her wish. It ended with the traditional sad songs, but the general atmosphere was celebratory.
The community appreciated the family as it fulfilled Nagammal’s last wish by bringing out a generally sombre event into a celebration of how long and joyful her life had been. This has become a positive example in a very traditional community, known mainly for its funeral rites.
On social media, photographs and videos of the funerals went viral and attracted debate on how natural deaths were supposed to be celebrated with honor and positivity.
