Shillong to have 'Family Graveyard'

Shillong, Feb 12 (ANI): The authorities of the Nongthymmai Divine Saviour Parish cemetery here have put forward a solution to have a 'Family Graveyard' in an attempt to avoid the rapidly depleting burial space in the cemetery and create more burial space for the dead.

Family Graveyard is a morgue-like room with several rows of cubicles to hold the remains of the deceased. Each cubicle will be given to a family to put the remains of their dead.

This initiative of the Nongthymmai cemetery has found favour among the locals.

D M Mawrie, a local, said, "When they (people) will die, that means we will have to bury our people in the same place. We don't need to find another place to bury them. There is a lot of population in our church; we don't have any place to bury them."

"It was one of the biggest problems we faced. So, family graveyard will help our people," added Mawrie.

The locals had initially raised objections and questioned the move to create a 'Family Graveyard', but now they are in favour of it.

Father Devasia, Parish Priest (Divine Saviour Parish) said, "I was almost worried when they (people) will die, where will they get a burial? They went around looking for a place outside the city. Then I told my community members and others, this is too difficult."

"Imagine a poor family: they will have to pay money to transport the body to other places. It will cost them hell lot of money. So I suggested them to reuse the land," added Father Devasia.

Father Devasia further said that it would take three days to complete a burial ceremony due to the time taken to dig a grave.

But with the 'Family Graveyard', it would take around fifteen minutes to refurbish the graves for burying the new body," added Father Devasia.

Currently, the graveyard holds 240 cubicles. (ANI)