Source: www.thestar.com
TORONTO, CANADA, October 3, 2009: Hindus in Canada longing to follow ancient tradition may soon be able to immerse the ashes of their loved ones in a stream close to home.
“We have selected a location in one of our parks that has a stream running through it. This would allow for scattering on water and a pleasant venue to accommodate people,” said Pickering, Ontario’s Mayor David Ryan. “My hope is it becomes a reality in the next couple of months.”
Officials are talking with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to ensure the proposed project would not alter the creek or downstream waterways.
Statistics Canada in 2001 put the number of Hindus in the Toronto metropolitan census area at more than 190,000. In 2004, Credit Valley Conservation asked the TRCA to look into what it regards as an environmental problem: river offerings of flowers, coconuts and jewelry. But those items are offerings used in Hindu rituals, not funerals. Since then, the TRCA has been working with the Hindu community to find a solution.