Woman’s Funeral Halted For 2 Days Over Meat Demand By Villagers In Odisha’s Mayurbhanj

Baripada: Last rites of a 70-year-old tribal woman was allegedly halted for more than two days in Shamakhunta area of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district following villagers’ demand for a goat as per the community’s customs.

As per reports, the funeral of Somabari Singh of Jaibila village was finally conducted on Monday after her family promised to offer 10 kg mutton to the community members within eight days. The body had already started decomposing when the last rites were performed.

The woman, who hailed from Mundari tribe, was reportedly suffering from some unknown disease for the last several months. After she died on Saturday afternoon, her two sons Doctor and Chandan approached the community members to help cremate the body.

However, their request was rejected by the community members who accused the two of violating their customs by not inviting fellow villagers to their marriage feasts.

Stating that they have been living an ostracised life for several years as they did not invite community members to their wedding feasts, the two brothers said that villagers had demanded goats and handia (rice beer) during their marriage feast. However, their demands could not be met due to financial constraints.

When the family sought the help of villagers after the death of the woman on Saturday, the community members reportedly reiterated their demand for a goat and ‘handia.’ The brothers were unable to afford it. When the woman’s  body decomposed after two days, one of the brothers again approached the villagers again and agreed to their demands.

The family offered to provide 10 kg mutton to the villagers and they agreed to assist in the cremation.  Somabari’s body was taken to the village cremation ground on Monday afternoon with the help of some villagers. Subsequently, the last rites were performed.

Village community head San Laxman Singh said Doctor had married three women without adhering to tribal customs and inviting people from the tribe. His younger brother Chandan did not invite community members to his marriage. As the duo had violated the traditions, community members refused to assist them in cremating their mother’s body, he said.

However, villagers helped them perform the last rites when Doctor agreed to provide at least 10 kg mutton within eight days, he said.