Sunday, November 09, 2008

On Saying our Prayers

It was a typical Hakka traditional funeral I suppose. It lasted for 3 days before she was being burried.

She was of a ripe age of 84. She has 7 sons, and 2 daughters. She has numerous grandchildren, and a few great-grandchildren. So it was indeed a huge family gathering.

Cousins and relatives flew in from Penang and KL, Singapore, Brunei and Philipines.

She was lying peacefully in the coffin. And she was vaguely grinning with parts of her teeth showing. I swear sometimes I saw her chest moving.

Eldest aunt were wailing a lot in the house. The first time I saw all my uncles crying.

Lots of people came. Since she has 9 children, of whom 2 are daughters and the rest sons. And colleagues and clients of her sons, they came to pay her the last respect.

She was burried in the mid-day sun. All her children and grandchildren threw flowers into her grave before walking away without looking back.



See, I don't know if I could blog about it. The funeral procession I mean. With pictures as well. Not that I have much education about the tradition. What's more, from what we see, there were both Buddhism and Taoism involved. Long hours of mantra chanting. And lots of Hakka chanting as well.

I have some pictures taken during the funeral. Of the flowers given. Of some of the Taoism procession. Of the altar and the coffin even. Up till she was burried. My parents don't know about it. And I'm sure they'll be asking me to delete them all if they know.

Should I blog about it? Or should I not?

But anyways...

I'm glad she's gone. Everyone else in the family is too. She's been suffering too much. She's been troubling herself and those who love her.



Despite not being as close to her, I'm saying my prayers. That she's going to a happier place.

Rest in peace, my dear Ah-Ma.

17 Jujus:

Twilight Man said...

You're such a good grandson.
When my grandparents died, blogging was unheard of and I took hundreds of shots in artistic poses & angles. My relatives ticked me off for snapping funny funeral photos & playing mahjong with guests during funeral!! i'm in advertising mah.....

Bengbeng said...

i am hakka too. My personal opinion is if u blog abt it, the older generation will talk n gossip abt it if they find out n more important they will blame u and possibly yr family if anything happens in the family for decades to come.

if u like to post jus close ups of flowers etc to represent condolences, handle of a coffin etc only. however i still suggest u opt out of this exercise. post in such a way nobody will link it to the actual funeral..no familiar faces etc. forgive me if i am too direct. i been through so many funerals i have lost count.

i did however take pics n made albums to b distributed amongst the various branches of the family present to remember the dead person. last i heard the albums never got lost. they fear losing it as if it has some spiritual power etc which is ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

isn't it funny... everyone flies in only when there's a funeral. like before that everyone will say no time. no time. not free. life is just so filled with crap.

my condolences to you and your family.

Fable Frog said...

my condolence~ i think it's ok to take pictures. I actually know how the process of burying my granma [father's side] from photos~ i was just a baby back then. about blogging wor~ not so sure lor. You do have large family, and that means so many differences in opinion~

Rae P said...

oh....i didnt know that there were such rules.

again, may she rest in peace......

Glog said...

My deepest condolences...
Hugs

Anonymous said...

My deepest condolences to you and your family. May she rest in peace.

calgraden said...

My deepest condolences, sorry of the lost.

[SK] said...

sure she will, and happy to have listened to all your prayers..

JC said...

Sorry to hear about that, but don't worry, like what you said, she will be in somewhere better and much happier.

I think, it's better if you don't blog about the pictures you had taken, keep it for yourself. You should know best what to post or not.

Take care.

savante said...

You'd be horrified at my grandpa's funeral then. He died really old and it wasn't wholly unexpected so it was like a circus gathering.

Janvier said...

Condolences, Bong.

Jaded Jeremy said...

My condolences. Hope things went smoothly.

foongpc said...

Sorry to hear about this. Maybe you should not blog about it?

Katetricia said...

My deepest condolences...please accept my sincere sympathies. May Grandma rest in Peace *huggies Dr Bong*

Actually, it be good that you can blog about it. Least we can know the tradition of Hakka.

Again, is a contrast feelings and concerns; modern vs closed-up minded.

But then... I think your grandma will be happy that she is famous in your blog! no no, Not to make joke about it, but there are old folks that loved to have their stories till last chapter of their life blogged or at least written some where, like my 2nd Aunt.

AGAIN..... you make your own decision. Whatever decision you made, I will respect it

When my time comes, please blog and post it up about it ok? :D

Ps: coming from a strict and large family members like yours, is not advisable to post up familiar faces. Perhaps you can distribute it among your family members :) We didn't blog nor talk about it after the event of many family members' death, but we do framed up the photos, merely for memories.

Medie007 said...

thanks for the wishes guys. appreciated that.

Medie007 said...

and about writing on the procession, i'm considering about it. actually dad was asking why i even brought my camera back, and he said it would've been nice if someone ever write something about it.

so yeah... i'm considering. maybe when i'm more free lah.

long processions bah. :P