Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, October 8

In a path-breaking decision that aims at changing an age-old ritual, the Sangwan khap panchayat — the predominant khap in Charkhi Dadri district — announced that they would not immerse the mortal remains of the dead in the Ganga.

The khap meeting held at Kheri Bura village in Charkhi Dadri district claimed that it was taking decisions to usher in social reforms by discarding outdated norms that were ostentatious and extravagant for people to perform.

The Sangwan khap has influence in 60 villages having a population of 3.5 lakh in Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani districts. It is considered one of the strongest khaps in Haryana.

Sombir Sangwan, khap pradhan, said the khap took the unanimous decision to do away with immersing mortal remains in the Ganga. “This is an illogical ritual which not only pollutes the river, but also puts financial burden on the family which has lost a member. From now, we will not go to Haridwar to immerse the remains. People in these villages will bury the ashes in the ground and plant a tree in the name of the departed soul,” Sangwan informed The Tribune on Monday.

Nar Singh, secretary of the khap, said people in the entire khap were unanimous in doing away with this practice as it hadbecome a social evil as the priests living in Haridwar were spreading superstitions among the people.

The panchayat also issued directions that no more than 11 persons should visit a bereaved family. Similarly, relatives should not be asked to create a rush at the time of cremation.

Besides, it also sought to cut down on the spending at weddings by asking the villagers not to take more than 51 members in the wedding procession going to the house of the bride.

“The wedding function should be organised at daytime and should not be delayed after 11 pm. The khap also told people not to accept more than Rs 10 as ‘kanyadaan’ at the wedding. An equal amount should be given at the time of ‘rasam pagri’,” said Nar Singh.

Pradhan said they had decided to organise sarv khap mahapanchayat to deal with the issue of crime against women on November 11 in Dadri town.

“Despite legal provisions and police deterrent, incidents continue to occur across the state. We aim to devise some effective mechanism that can control such incidents,” Pradhan said.