Death ritual at the River "Shaving"

Hinduism was introduced in Trinidad by the indentured Indian Laborers in 1845 , the religion continued today despite the many obstacles, misunderstandings and misrepresentation from persons within and out of the religion.

One of the practices involve is the "Tonsure" ,the act of cutting the hair or shaving the head after the death  of a member  is a age-old Hindu custom. 

The underlying concept is that hair is a symbolic offering to the gods, representing a real sacrifice of beauty of the persons doing it, hence shaving your head shows your grief for the departed soul. Another similar belief is the hair on the head is treated as an adornment and as a symbol of vanity. On the occasion of death  the Hindus consider the children of the family not to be egoistic in nature but  humble, devoted and submitted to nature. So they need them to give up their adornment and vanity in humiliation.

Whatever the belief the practice is performed in different variations, dependent on caste, ten days after the deceased is buried or burnt. The majority of the Hindus are cremated while some may be buried.

This is usually done by the eldest brother in the company of five other male family members. The Ceremony is guided by a religious person , the “Nawh” and takes place on a river bank where parties  shave one another heads and take a bath before engaging in the ceremony. After the ceremony the parties assemble at the home of the deceased and partake in the meal presented. This meal is strictly vegetarian and consist of most of the dishes the deceased used to enjoy while alive. This custom is said to contribute to the purification of the home.

There are many verification of this final rights as the ceremony is called, in families without males it is performed by females, cousins or other family members. This ceremony till date is done by the river at an auspicious time.  

Did you Know that the river had so many uses in the forms of different limes?