Hindus ‘want all UK crematoriums to have Lord Shiva shrine’

Welcoming the Great Glen Crematorium in Leicester for having a Lord Shiva statue and pooja room on its grounds, Hindus are urging all crematoriums in the UK to have Lord Shiva shrines and Hindu worship rooms.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said in a statement that it was important for grieving Hindu families to have traditional worship services surrounded by Hindu environs and statues of deities.

With Lord Shiva shrines and pooja rooms in the crematoriums, grieving families and friends could gather and perform the last rituals properly, respectfully and peacefully, Zed, who is also the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, added.

He continued to say that the Hindu community which now had “substantial numbers” in the UK, would feel included by seeing Hindu symbols in the country’s crematoriums.

The Shiva shrine and pooja room in Great Glen Crematorium are said to be the first on the crematorium grounds in UK. Reportedly imported from India and installed outdoors, the white marble Lord Shiva statue weighs about 770 pounds.

Set in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside on 30 acres of landscaped grounds and gardens, award-winning Great Glen Crematorium of Westerleigh Group claims to provide “a calm and tranquil setting to hold a dignified funeral service”. The crematorium is managed by Harvey Watson.

Zed said: “If the officials needed any help in the religious expertise during the designing and development process of Lord Shiva shrines or prayer rooms, I or other Hindu scholars would be glad to assist.”