COVID-19 Buddhist Cremation
In July 2021, COVID Delta heavily spreading in Thailand with 20,000+ infections and 200+ death per day. Few temples accept COVID-19 bodies.
There are not enough crematories to perform Buddhist rituals. I'm here with Surasek Nuengnoi (Toi), 56, the first undertaker who accept the COVID-19 body in Thonburi, Bangkok.
Upper: After the death of COVID-19 patience, the hospital sealed the body with 3 layers of plastic bag before place the body in the coffin which directly delivered to the crematory.
In the Buddhist tradition, the coffin will sit in the crematory for 3, 5, or 7 days for ritual depends on the body's family and can be open to being touched, kissed by family.
But COVID-19 coffin has to seal shut unopened, send directly to the crematory and finish the cremation ritual in few hours.
"I was scared and confused but I have to accept the COVID-19 bodies here because they have nowhere else to go; if I won't who will?" stated Toi during the interview after he finished the cremation for 2 bodies
"I don't feel angry for some undertaker that didn't accept COVID-19 body, they have their rights to be scared I guess they have a family to be taken care of... unlike me" stated Toi. He also explained that he feels like a forgotten man; no help from authorities, no equipment sent, no COVID-19 body knowledge, no nothing.
Upper: Toi checking the crematory during the ritual.
Left: Toi is taking a short break during the cremation process.
"Everyone is focusing on medical personnels which is true because they are the frontliner but it's unfair for a backliner like me."
stated Toi
Below: Death certificate of a COVID-19 body.
Upper: Medical personnels delivering the Body to the crematory.
Left: Buddhist funeral for a COVID-19 body.
"It's lonely and I'm depressed. I can't even touch or kiss my loved one for the last time. Everything happens frighteningly fast." stated one of the families.
Left: After the process is done the ashes and the remaining skeletons will be filled in a bucket and sits overnight to cool down.
"Look at this young man, when you were born your body is around this size; death either," stated Toi after he finished separating bones and ashes for each body cremated yesterday (3 bodies)
Lower: The remaining ashes will be wrapped with a white cloth and the remaining skeletons will be placed on a plate in human shape; each skeleton represents each body part, e.g. Skull for the head, Tibia for the leg.
Upper: The family comes to pick up the remaining in the morning for more rituals, e.g. make merit, Loi Angkarn.
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Toi does not allow more than 2 bodies per day due to the safety of the crematory because COVID-19 bodies have to be burnt by 1,000 degrees Celcius flame, unlike ordinary bodies which are around 300-400 degrees Celcius.
"I can't accept 5 or 6 bodies a day anymore; the crematory has to be cooled off otherwise it will be broken or maybe collapsed like other temples " stated Toi
Left: The crematory of Bang Nam Chon Temple (Thonburi, Bangkok) collapsed due to high activity and unstopped cremation.