
now after the morning poosai, everyone, including a portrait and the ashes of my grandmother, is heading to the buses we organized. The busride from Karaveddi, Nelliady to Keerimalai takes about 40 minutes. Both locations are on the very top coast of Sri Lanka in the Vadamarachchi and respectively Valikamam region on the Jaffna peninsula.

Welcoming back my uncle after arriving from Keerimalai. A cow was also always present until the last day in our frontyard. Historically, a cow is offered to the Brahmin priest, but nowadays its just a symbolic gesture and you give the Brahmin money. But I read that the cow is also seen as an assistant for the deceased. It will help their souls to find the right path to liberation.

After coming back from Keerimalai, there will be another poosai by another Brahmin priest. Here I experienced an incident that showed me sadly again that casteism is still very relevant in Tamil society. The person on the left, who helped us for the funeral rites, is from an “impure” caste. He accidentally touched the Brahmin priests feet. Because of their heavily difference in caste hierarchy, the Brahmin got angry.

So when every poosai and rite is finished it’s finally time for the first Tamil food of the long day. Interesting to see that after the antyesti my relatives were kind of released and a bit happy because they believe that now my grandmothers soul (aanma) will hopefully find a peaceful liberation, especially because she really suffered her last moments in her body.
Ammammas (tamil: Grandmothers) Funeral
In this photo project from 2015, I documented the Antiyeddi (Antyeshti “Last Funeral”) rite in Karaveddy (Nelliady, Sri Lanka).
One month after passing away, my grandmother’s ashes got a last blessing and were thrown into the sea to liberate her soul. There are various rituals and customs for a Antiyeddi, depending on caste, family and village traditions. Click on the photos to read more about this specific hindu-tamil rite.