death .. journey or destination ?

i was in bangalore for a couple of days, well bangaluru now.. and one day i see a band playing with lot of zest .. i thought another wedding procession, then i c a palki adorned with beautiful yellow flowers, and i search for the bride thinking its a palki carrying the bride, how it use to happen centuries ago in bengal, i am surprised to see a dead body of an old man being carried with so much grandeur.

my coworker told me that in Karnataka they celebrate death as it is the beginning of the new journey towards heaven.. that got me thinking

i have n't looked at death in this manner, it always meant the end to me. final destination in the journey of life. i have experienced the pain of death like anybody else,seen different kind of deaths at close quarters, old age, accidental, suicidal, but even now thinking of all the loss does leave a dull ache in my heart.

i was reading about this 11 year old suicide bomber who believes by dieing as a jhehadi he would go to heaven with 70 virgins.

its a "just for your information " thing. no comments on that !!

there are so many amusing and ridiculous theories surrounding death .. i always fear my days with dexter are numbered.. one day a co worker told me that dog's life is blessed as they become humans after dog's life.. sure buddy.. i agree dog's life is blessed but that doesn't include the becomming human after death part!!

then there is the belief of rebirth which i find fascinating as some people have experienced that in real .. but it is so over rated in India or is it just bengali's that do it am not too sure.. when my grand parents died, any birth in our family was considered their rebirth, doesn't matter if its after few years of their death. the most popular theory of rebirth states that rebirth happens instantly not after years.

the fascination man has with future really boggles me. we ponder and build theories about the future which is as uncertain as sensex and of no consequence today that we totally loose focus and importance of what today holds for us. today is what will make the tomorrow and why bother about the future when there is so much not done today.

well death is the last truth of life and however painful it is .. there is no respite from it ..and what happens after death no body alive really knows for sure.. so i now shove the thought of death away and dig on the lindt lying alone and lonely in the frig.. i am the rescue ranger