A reader from Bombay wrote in to Parsiana stating, "Today I was with the family of a dear friend whose husband passed away. There was a lot of confusion and conflicting ideas and instructions on what precise steps one should take. One needs four copies of Aadhaar cards of the deceased and spouse? Who issues the death certificate? Then does one go to the Nana Chowk municipal office or to Doongerwadi? What do they need before sending the hearse? What clothes and how many of each does one need to take? They were asked to bring five white bedsheets. It would be of great help to all Parsis to know step by step what one needs to do and in what order.”
Above: obsequies at Prayer Hall (l) and bungli at Doongerwadi
Parsiana wrote to Bombay Parsi Punchayet chairwoman Armaity Tirandaz inquiring as to the right procedure to be followed. She forwarded the details prepared by Doongerwadi manager Vistaspar Mehta. We also wrote to Dinshaw Tamboly, chairman of the Prayer Hall Services and Maintenance Trust regarding the formalities for those who wish to be cremated.
Advised Mehta: "On expiry of a humdin at the residence, the relatives need to call their physician to check and issue a certificate of death in Form 4A. In case death occurs at a hospital, the relatives are required to go to the hospital to claim the body of the deceased and obtain the certificate of death in Form 4.”
"Call up Doongerwadi front office on +91 8591244526 or +91 8369460336 to inform of the demise and furnish the full name of the deceased; place of demise for hearse pick up; fire temple affiliated to; bungli preference (subject to availability); number of days of obsequies at Doongerwadi.
"On receipt of the death certificate from the physician / hospital, the same to be sent on WhatsApp to Doongerwadi front office on +91 8591244526… The front office executive on duty will check the certificate for correctness and dispatch the hearse.”
Relatives are advised to bring the following to the Towers of Silence: a towel to dry the deceased post bathing; kusti and washed sudreh of the deceased to dress the deceased post bathing (a new sudreh can be obtained from Doongerwadi at a cost); about four to five old worn and washed gents’ sudreh for laying in the bier; three washed, white, single bed sheets for wrapping the deceased during sachkar ceremony. New white single bedsheets can be obtained from Doongerwadi at a cost.
Documents required for the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Doongerwadi records, in original and two photocopies: Death certificate in Form 4 / 4A as applicable; Aadhaar card of the deceased; Aadhaar card of the next of kin; Aadhaar card of the person going to BMC office for issuance of death registry certificate, if other than the next of kin, in original and one photocopy.
The next of kin / representative may proceed to BMC’s D ward office (Death Registry Department) presently located on the Ground floor, Main building, Nana Chowk, Bombay 400007 to obtain the Death Registry Certificate (DRC). (Be sure the DRC is signed by the officer/clerk at the office. Sometimes if a gratuity is not given the form remains unsigned. This means a second trip to the office to obtain the signature.) Alternatively, the relatives may come to Doongerwadi and then proceed to BMC. The DRC is to be submitted to the front office executive who will take a photocopy and return the original. The sachkar ceremony and further prayers will commence on receipt of the DRC.
Mehta has cautioned that "a DRC issued by the BMC is valid for 24 hours from the time of issue, that is, the paidust has to be performed within 24 hours of the issue of the said DRC. In case the paidust is held after 24 hours, the certificate needs to be revalidated / re-issued by the BMC.”
The manager also cautioned that "a local area police station may be informed by the hospital authorities in case death occurs within 24 hours of admission; or by the BMC in case the paidust is to be performed after 24 hours of death.
The Worli Prayer Hall supplied this information: The family should bring the cadaver fully bathed and dressed in regular clothing including sudreh and kusti. No extra clothes are required. Original death certificate issued by the hospital or doctor, having their signature and rubber stamp on two sides of the certificate (above and below) plus three photocopies; one photocopy of the Aadhaar card of the deceased, Tamboly noted.
Two white bedsheets are required. If not available with the family, can be purchased from the Prayer Hall.
"Municipal registration will be done at the Worli crematorium,” noted Tamboly. For any further details please call coordinator Ervad Framroze Mirza on 8691012488 / 9821421593.