To honour grandma's last wish, Tamil Nadu family turns funeral into celebration

The idea was, perhaps, to celebrate life and honour loved ones.

Images and videos of funeral celebrations have gone viral on social media and people are talking about how natural deaths, where a person has lived a life, should be honoured as they are unavoidable.

A family in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu performed last rites of a woman’s in a joyous way. And, this was her last wish.

The widow of temple priest Paramathadevar, Nagammal, 96, of Usilampatti, recently died of age-related health issues.

But before she passing away, Nagammal wanted her burial to be filled with songs and dancing rather than crying and grieving.

He family includes grandkids and great-grandchildren, two sons and four daughters.

She wanted her loved ones to say goodbye to her by holding a colourful farewell party that included traditional folk arts, music and dance performances by the village’s children and grandkids.

What had begun as a funeral service turned to be a joyous event, but in the end, the customary songs of sadness were also performed.