Nana Patekar was cremated on Thursday night, after sunset, at his farmhouse in Donje village in pune district. In Hindu tradition, the last rites are generally performed during daylight hours, and cremation after dark is usually avoided. The late hour therefore drew questions, including from some members of the public.
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Why the Rites Were Held After Sunset
Many Hindu families follow the belief that the antim sanskar, or final rites, should be completed between sunrise and sunset. Because of this, a night-time cremation stands out and invites curiosity, especially when the person being mourned is as widely known as Nana Patekar.
Malhar Patekar’s Explanation
Speaking to the media after the rites, Malhar Patekar said the family and the mortal remains were in Goa. Bringing them to the farmhouse in the village took far longer than the family had expected. They had hoped to reach the farmhouse earlier in the day, he said, but circumstances did not allow it, and the family “had to do the cremation after the sunset.”
He also explained that the actor passed away early in the morning. By the time the journey was complete, a great deal of time had already gone by, and keeping the body any longer was not advisable. The family decided to go ahead with the rites as soon as they arrived.
Full State Honours
The veteran actor was cremated with full state honours and given a three-gun salute. The rites were held shortly after his mortal remains reached the farmhouse. Because of the late hour, several film industry colleagues and celebrities could not attend the ceremony.
Malhar Pledges to Continue His Father’s Work
Malhar said his father had already handed responsibilities to the people who deserved them and had delegated much of his work. He promised to carry the actor’s social work forward, saying his dreams and his father’s were the same: to work for the people.
