Daughters-in-law break tradition, carry mother-in-law's body for last rites in Maha

The four daughters-in-law from Maharashtra's Beed broke age-old traditions and carried the dead body of their beloved mother-in-law for the last rites. They showed that their love for the deceased could not be restricted by any tradition.

Beed (Maharashtra): In a rare display of affinity, four tearful daughters-in-law broke age-old traditions and carried the body of their beloved mother-in-law for the last rites, who expired in Maharashtra's Beed on Monday morning.

The incident, which made many onlookers emotional, was witnessed in Kashinath Nagar area of this town in Marathwada.

The woman -- Sunderbai Dagdu Naikwade (83) passed away at her home on Monday due to old age, leaving behind her inconsolable family of four sons, their wives and grandchildren.

"Her last wish was to donate her eyes. We fulfilled her final wish. In fact, when our father Dagdu passed away in 2013, the family had donated his eyes," the oldest son, Navnath D Naikwade told media.

As her two sons and two step-sons, grandchildren and other relatives started making the funeral arrangements, the four distraught daughters-in-law decided to do something for their mother-in-law, who was more like a mother to them.

To the amazement and disbelief of many relatives and the neighbourhood, the daughters-in-law volunteered to lend their shoulders to carry their mother-in-law's body to the local crematorium.

They are - Lata Navnath Naikwade, Usha Radhakishan Naikwade, step-brothers' wives - Manisha Jalinder Naikwade and Meena Machhindra Naikwade.

When there were some mild murmurs of protests, the four women insisted on breaking the traditions and finally hoisted their mother-in-law Sunderbai's flower-bedecked open coffin on their shoulders and marched to the crematorium.

They were trailed by their relatives, neighbours and friends, including many women and en route, many curious onlookers also joined the never-seen-before funeral procession.

The women didn't falter and boldly carried Sunderbai's body for around a quarter of a kilometre, then the menfolk took over for another quarter km before it was placed in a waiting hearse-van to go to the crematorium, around four kms away.

People who are close to the family later said that the deceased had shared a very close bond with each of her four daughters-in-law who too had enormous love and respect for her.

It is because of this that the women could not stop themselves from coming forward and lifting the mortal remains of their mother-in-law.