A family member died abroad — should we bring the body home or cremate there?

both are acceptable; cremating locally and bringing the ashes home is the most common and fully valid choice.

Repatriating a body involves embassy papers, embalming, airline rules and often a week or more of delay, plus a heavy cost. Tradition prefers that cremation happen without long delay, so many families choose to cremate in the country of death. There is no loss of merit in this.

Most large cities abroad have crematoriums used to Hindu rites, and temples or community groups can usually find a priest. If no priest is available, a family member can recite the Gītā or chant God's name and offer the fire — the later rites in India can be done with full ceremony.

The ashes can then be carried home (keep the crematorium certificate for customs) for immersion, and the 10th–13th day rites can be done wherever the main family lives. Relatives who could not travel can begin mourning from the day they hear the news.

Source: common practice among Indian families abroad · Carry the cremation certificate with the ashes

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