For the final journey (Photo Feature)

Pashupati crematorium is located in the Pashupatinath temple premises in Kathmandu, Nepal. It’s a sacred Hindu site where cremations take place along the Bagmati River. Near the crematorium is the shop where you can find everything that is required for a traditional cremation—Paddy, straw shoes, ghee, wooden logs and sticks, green bamboo stretchers specially used to carry dead bodies from ambulances into the landing stairs (ghat) of the Bagmati river.

This shop fixes the prices of goods that are delivered and unloaded at the banks of Bagmati. The staff carry them and store them in the shop’s warehouse. Green bamboo is often used to carry dead bodies in some cultures due to its easy availability, strength, and symbolism. Bamboo is lightweight, flexible, and abundant in certain regions, making it practical for constructing a simple stretcher or carrier. Additionally, in some cultures, bamboo holds cultural or religious significance, and the use of green bamboo may be tied to symbolism related to life, renewal, or nature. The exact reason varies based on local traditions and beliefs.

I came across a middle-aged man selecting bamboo meticulously. His name was Rajkumar Tandukar. He told me he was preparing to make a ladder-shaped structure just behind the shop. It has been a decade since he has been doing this. He has made as many as over 25 bamboo stretchers in just a single day. Even though Pashupati now has an electric crematorium, the traditional method of cremation is still preferred over it. I saw many funerals being carried out along the banks of the river.