My dear granny was laid to rest on Friday. Today is the 7th day of her departure. The Chinese believe that the dead will "return" on the 7th day. Late this morning we performed the 7th day prayer before leaving Benut for home. We have to return again on the 49th day for the next round of prayer [which is gonna be my 6th trip to SG this year (!!)]
When we arrived at gran's place in Benut just before noon on Wednesday, everything was already in place. A large tent occupying almost the entire road in front of the house was set up, the caterer was busy at work cooking lunch and granny was already placed in the coffin in the driveway together with all the paper offerings. In the living room, my aunts were busy sorting out the funeral gear for the prayer. Over the next 2 days, I saw so many relatives that I have not seen for years. Granny's house became ground zero for several days as almost everyone came from Singapore. There weren't enough sleeping room so some of the guys ended up sleeping in their cars!
The prayers went on for almost 2 full days and turned out to be rather gruelling. I don't know how my aunts and uncles managed cos some of them are well into their 70s and 80s! My legs were sore the morning after the prayers!! And we weren't allowed to wear any shoes during the prayers, only white socks. On Friday we had to walk the van carrying granny's coffin from the house onto the main road.. in socks!!
There were 2 session of prayers, the afternoon and night session. Afternoon session ran from 2-5PM and night session continued after dinner from 7-11PM. There were 3 priests (Sai Kongs) and a funeral band but it was the main Sai Kong who lead most of the prayers. Prayers were conducted in Hokkien.. my uncle had arranged for a Hokkien funeral. Both my grandparents are Hokkien. My grandpa passed away when I was 11 so I have little recollection of his funeral but I was told grandpa's funeral lasted almost a full week. It was held entirely in Singapore cos my grandpa had passed away in Singapore.
Many relatives had turned up on Friday morning. There was another round of prayer before we burned the paper house etc and all the paper money.. (there were so many huge bags of rolled up paper monies.. mom said granny could open a bank with all that money). Right before the burning the Sai Kong sprinkled flour around the paper offerings and poured boiling water around it (so that no one else can receive them except for granny).
Then the coffin was sent to the nearest town to be cremated. The journey to Kulai took almost an hour. Right before the coffin was cremated we had yet another round of prayers before the coffin was sent into the crematorium furnace.
The last round of prayers was at home in Benut right after we had returned from the crematorium. We had to pray in front of granny's makeshift altar. After a late lunch, most of my relatives made their way back home to Singapore. Everyone was so tired by then.. I don't think they got much sleep in the last few days.
Early the next morning we went to the crematorium to collect granny's ashes & bones. Granny's ashes were placed in an urn and ferried all the way down to Singapore where it was to be kept in the same place as my grandpa. It was a rather long journey cos we had to stop in the crematorium in Johor Bahru to get a certification from the Health Ministry. The urn was sealed with a wax seal by an officer from the Health Ministry (for custom purposes when we get into Singapore) Waited almost an hour for the health ministry officer to turn up!! Then we got stuck at Woodlands immigration checkpoint for another hour.
We finally arrived at 1PM where everyone was waiting with the Singapore Sai Kong since 11AM. There was a prayer before the urn was moved inside. Then a round of lunch at Tiong Bahru foodcourt before we head back to Benut. It was an early night for everyone cos we had to prepare for the 7th day prayer the next morning.
It's sad to see granny go but she's already so aged (she's 93 this year) and has been unwell for the past year.. I guess it was time for her to go. Granny may you rest in peace. You will be sorely missed by us all.
