The funeral procession of Tibet: Sky Burial

11:58 AM

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Sky burial is the burial traditions in Tibet. The procession was preceded by praying corpse then take the body to the top of the mountain where many birds of prey are located. At the top of the mountain, the corpse is placed in the position of the body face down, with his head tied up and mutilated in order to invite the vultures come. The birds will eat all parts of the bodies. Sometimes the bone is also finely ground and used as food for smaller birds, like crows. Part of the skull are also sometimes taken home to be used as beverage cups. They believe that the body is a vessel for the soul and must be returned to nature.

Harsh climate of Tibet is hilly and rocky to the difficulty of finding land for burial or cremation and firewood is impossible for burial there. Therefore, the way the sky burial is considered more practical than buried or cremated.

Mountaintop site of the procession is believed to be the entrance to nirvana. The majority of the population are followers of Tibetan Buddhism, the religion which is believed in reincarnation. Therefore, the bodies of the deceased has no meaning anymore and will eventually return to nature, either by a vulture or described in the soil. Thus, this method is believed to be much easier for the spirits of the dead to get to nirvana, for giving charity to the vultures.