MP villagers spend money for death rituals on social causes

Residents of a village in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district have started utilising the money usually paid to organise the Mrityubhoj or, the feast held in the name of the dead, for social causes.

Inspired by the endeavour of the Gayatri Pariwar of Haridwar to establish 'Adarsh Gram' orideal village system, villagers here have started donating their money meant for the rituals for the dead to cow shelters.

It's been 10 years since the villagers took to new concept of donating for a social cause for peace to the dead of the family.

Among other influences, all villagers jointly clean the village on the last Sunday of every month. Seventy percent of the houses have their personal toilets. All issues are resolved amicably within the village.

According to villager Bhagat Singh, it all started in 2005 when he visited Shanti Kunj in Haridwar along with his friends. As they came to know about the concept of 'Adarsh Gram', they resolved to apply it in their village as well.

Some time ago, when villager Ramprasad Dhakar's father died, he preferred to donate a sum of Rs.2 lakh for the cow shelter instead of ogranising the traditional 'Mrityubhoj', a community meal to honour the dead. Also a small meditation room was created. A couple from Haridwar educates children here and the expenditure is borne by the villagers.

Today, the sale o0f tobacco products is almost negligible in this village. An illegal liquor shop opened here five years ago was also shut down. People have also turned to love and protect environment.