Forum: Casket company staff should dress and behave respectfully at funerals
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Funerals are the final journey of an individual, and every family hopes to send their loved one off with dignity and respect.
Unfortunately, at a few Hindu funerals I have attended in recent years, I noticed that the appearance and behaviour of some casket company employees fell far short of what is appropriate for such a solemn occasion.
Many staff members are often unshaven and shabbily dressed, presenting an image that does not reflect the dignity associated with funeral rites.
More troubling was what I witnessed at a recent funeral. Some personnel, including members of the band troupe, were openly consuming alcohol during the proceedings. Such behaviour is highly inappropriate, disrespectful to the deceased and the grieving family, and unsettling to observe.
Casket companies provide an essential service at one of the most vulnerable moments in a family’s life. Professional conduct both in dress and behaviour must be a fundamental expectation, not an optional standard.
I have noticed that other funeral service providers maintain high standards, and the same should be expected with all casket organisations.
This is also a matter of public image. Such incidents are often witnessed by the wider community, inadvertently projecting a negative impression of Hindu customs and practices. Funerals should reflect the solemnity and dignity that Hindu culture upholds.
I hope the industry will take this issue seriously and act swiftly.
Kumar Pillay Thangavalu
