Due to the unfortunate time of the Covid-19 pandemic, people restricting their travel, and the decrease in social gatherings, the ease of using virtual platforms such as Zoom or Skype has made it convenient for everyone to honour the death of their loved ones among other family members and friends. People are switching to online services for funerals, chautha and prayer meetings for everyone’s safety.
A virtual funeral ceremony is a real-time stream that is broadcasted from a particular location and is shared among people who are part of the family or friends circle. These kinds of ceremonies can include a gathering to honour the deceased, bringing in a live spiritual or religious performance, or just simply acknowledging the event and paying respect. Most people try to create a similar experience as to what they would do in real-time gathering, to make sure that the ceremony is as authentic as possible.
Virtual ceremonies come with advantages that make it easier for anyone to plan them.
- Grieving families are relieved of the financial burden due to crematorium bookings bangalore and the follow-up reception.
- It makes for an economical decision to go online as it saves up extra costs of venue and refreshments, saves time and travel finances, and allows people to be present from different parts of the world.
- Due to the fear of the pandemic and the new regulations, it becomes difficult for the bereaved friends and family to gather at one physical location. A virtual ceremony provides an easy solution for everyone to come together and be a part of the experience.
Holding a virtual chautha ceremony is a new affair for everyone. Here are a few things to keep in mind while conducting one:
Make a practical guest list
To make sure the ceremony is conducted sensibly, it is necessary to know who all are going to be a part of the virtual ceremony. Keeping in mind that people cannot hug or show physical remorse, virtual ceremonies can be as emotional as real ceremonies since the presence of all the closed ones can create a sense of support. Additionally, to show respect and honour for the deceased in a way that everyone would show in real life, it is essential to set a dress code.
Funeral ceremonies are an imperative part of all cultures. A virtual funeral ceremony holds as much value as any real-life ceremony. Therefore, there is right or wrong in how much grief one can express virtually or what everyone is supposed to wear, but it is expected that people follow the same traditions as they would do it in reality.
Additionally, to show respect and honour for the deceased in a way that everyone would show in real life, it is essential to set a dress code.
Choose a location for the event
The first step is to decide whether the ceremony will be held at home or at an external venue. Based on that, the next step would be to figure out the arrangements and memorial props. It is not convenient for everyone to organise a live stream for a big group of people, especially those that are not tech-savvy. This is the next point to consider, whether a zoom call would be appropriate enough to host a gathering or if you will need professional assistance with the right kind of sound system and camera. Certain tools can be used to personalise the experience. Virtual platforms like Zoom can be accurate for an office meeting but they may not have all the functions that will help in creating an emotional experience.
Online Zoom can be accurate for a work from home meeting but they may not have all the functions that will help in creating an emotional experience.
Recruit someone to manage the flow of the memorial
Several in-home funeral services can be contacted for assistance. Virtual funeral ceremonies can be difficult to plan and these services make the experience seamless for everyone by offering their equipment and professionals. Since a person is overlooking the technical tasks and online streaming, the family members can focus on the funeral and the ceremony, rather than worrying about the technicalities. This way the experience of the ceremony and the emotions behind the screens are not disrupted by family members constantly trying to take charge of the events. Virtual ceremonies are gaining popularity and in the coming months, they will become a significant way of paying tribute. In a way, it allows families and friends to receive closure and heal together as a group as they are on one screen and have complete visibility of other people.
