and counting..
Eventually, I will lost count of the number of funerals I attended.
I had a quiz on saturday afternoon. later in the evening, I received a call from father telling me to go to uncle's house. Uncle will fly back from KL and drive his family and me to KL on Sunday morning. It was said that Grandpa's condition is critical. All his organs are not fuctioning anymore. We were to go down and pay a visit to him maybe for the last time.
Sunday morning. After breakfast, we set off to KL from Singapore. We were not even out of Singapore when another telephone call came. Grandpa passed away... Not that it affect our plan very much cos everything was arranged and we were going back anyway. Yup, except that the intention now is different.
Grandma decided to have a lightning style of funeral. So on Sunday itself, people were called in to perform the rituals. The funeral was done according to taoist style.
We reached there in the late afternoon. Many ppl are there already, so too are my parents and my brother. The coffin is placed in front of the house and tents were built and extended to the road. There is a place on the side where offerings were being burnted
I was told to go cut my hair first because not allowed to cut hair for 3 months. So I went. After that, I bathed and changed into white cloths and black pants which was provided for by the funeral service ppl. I rested for a while in the room for the night is long.
In the evening, we take turns to eat dinner as some ppl must be present to continue doing the offerings and attend to ppl who came to pay last respect. Then, shifu (person who perform rituals), came. The immediate relatives gathered and we went into a series of kneeling, bowing, praying to different deity. I lost count of the number of times we performed the series of movement. this goes on from 7pm to past 3am with some small breaks in between. Along the way, some ppl cannot take it and have to drop out. The kids went to burning the offerings, while grandma just took a chair and sit down, observing the whole rituals. Kids slept at 12am.
The last of the rituals for the night is burning of paper car, paper house, paper servant, dead ppl's money, grandpa's clothes.... Initially we were holding hand in hand around the pile of offerings. But the fire prove too much for us and we have to stand much further back.
Then, the night ended.. most people went to sleep to get some rest before the rituals on monday. Sleep was near impossible for me. Went for walk, had tea with brother at 24 hours stall, continue burning offerings. lost count of time as we were not allowed to wear things like watch, necklance, earings..... later I slept for around 2 hours.
Morning came. Breakfast was ate hastily. Shifu came. Last respect was paid to grandpa. Some of grandpa's favorite things was put into the coffin. Coffin was sealed. Coffin was move out of the house compound. Prayers were offered. Coffined moved into coffin car. We boarded a bus to Tapah.
2 hours later...
reached Tapah, We came down of bus and walked behind the coffin car thru the town of Tapah.
Proceeded to burial grounds. Rested a while, have drink and some food. Coffin was lowered into the ground. Last rituals was performed. Each person took some soil and throw on top of coffin. We left without turning back...
Went to town of Tapah for lunch. Traveled back to House in seapark. Cleared the place of grandpa's belongings. offered jossstick to altar of grandpa. Went for dinner. All went for a good night's rest. THE END
All in all, everyone took it in stride. Including grandma. Everyone was expecting it to happen and have been prepared for it. However, some lost was felt from departure of grandpa.
