Damauli, November 24

Breaking with the age-old tradition, women of Tanahun district participated in a funeral procession and performed final rites today.

The women operating Chapaghat-based Bedbyas Jestha Nagarik Ashram of Byas Municipality-5 carried the body of Min Bahadur Basyal, 81, who had been living at the ashram for the last four years, to ghat. Women of the ashram performed funeral rites and cremated the body on confluence of Madi and Seti rivers.

Acting Chairperson of the ashram Sakuntala Ale said the ashram was run by women and they themselves would perform final rites of the persons dying at the ashram. “We performed the final rites ourselves to convey a message that women are as strong as males.”

There are seven elderly, including three women, at the ashram established four-and-a-half years ago and it is being run with donations provided by various social organisations and philanthropists. A total of 320 women are operating it. They had performed the final rites of an elderly three years ago as well.