Sharjah gifts land for Hindu-Sikh crematorium

Media Release

02 Jan 2012: Dr. Sheikh Sultan III bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, ruler of conservative Sharjah emirate in United Arab Emirates (UAE), has reportedly gifted about 10 acres of land for a new crematorium for Hindus and Sikhs.

 

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, welcomed Sultan’s gesture and added that it was “step in the right direction” accepting the longstanding request of the community. He said that funeral rites according to ancient religious traditions were highly important for Hindu and Sikh families.

 

According to reports, the crematorium will be built at the cost of over Dh 9.5 million with funds raised from the community and was expected to be ready by yearend.

 

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged other countries of the world also to provide land for Hindu and Sikh crematoriums and assistance in building those as these funeral rites had been in existence for centuries and Hindus and Sikhs would like to follow the traditions.

 

Sharjah, a constitutional monarchy which claims itself as the cultural capital of UAE and settled over 5000 years, has charming waterways, serves no alcohol, maintains strict decency laws and contains excellent galleries-theaters-museums and elegant mosques.