How to Conduct a Hindu Funeral Service in the UK

How to Conduct a Hindu Funeral in the UK

1. Register the Death

Before anything religious can happen:

How to Get a Death Certificate

You need to register on the General Register Office (GRO) website to get a copy of a birth, adoption, death, marriage, or civil partnership certificate in England and Wales. Find the link below to obtain a death certificate.

https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

2. Types of cremation

Direct Cremation

A direct cremation is when the person who’s passed is taken directly to the crematorium to be cremated, and the family don’t attend. It’s usually much cheaper than having a traditional funeral, and it can offer more flexibility for the family.

Traditional Cremation

1. Arrange with a Funeral Director

Choose a funeral service familiar with Hindu rites. Most directors can:

Assistance with all paperwork
Collection of deceased (the recently dead person) from mortuary
Care of the deceased prior to the cremation (provide refrigeration)
A simple wooden coffin
Transport the body and members involved in funeral procession (Antyesti) to the crematorium
Cremation Fees
Arrange crematorium booking 1.Choice of Cremation Date / Time, 2.Choice of Crematorium
Scattering or Provision of ashes in an eco-box
Viewing after collection
Flowers and catering

Ask specifically for:

Total Estimated Cost

2. Rituals Before Cremation / Antim Sanskar Rituals

Usually performed at home or at a funeral home. If you want to bring the deceased body home from the funeral director’s place, you can, but additional charges will need to be paid on an hourly basis.

1. Antim Sanskar Rituals (If you bring deceased at home)

1. You can invite celebrant (A celebrant creates and leads personalized ceremonies for life events like weddings, naming ceremonies, and funerals. They work with individuals and families to craft a unique service that reflects their beliefs, personalities, and wishes, offering an alternative to religious or civil ceremonies) or family member or friend can perform simple last rites without a celebrant or priest.
2. Follow process provided in Dnyan Prabodhini.
2.1.English and Hindi Translation of Dnyan Prabodhini process.
3. Place sacred items
4. Tulsi leaves / Ganga Jal (holy water) / Rudraksha or sacred thread
5. Viewing / Darshan : Family & friends offer: - Flowers / Rice / Holy water / Prayers
6. Mantra recital – “Om Namah Shivaya” or “Om Namo Narayana”
7. Funeral procession from home to crematorium

2. Cremation Ceremony at Crematorium

Plan the things as per time slot decided with the funeral director at the crematorium.

The cremation is the main Hindu funeral rite.

Typical UK Hindu cremation order:

A. Arrival

B. Short Service (15–30 mins)

The priest or eldest son/daughter leads:

3. After Cremation

A. Conduct a Wake

1. Set up a small devotional area (At home or hall)

A photo of the deceased

White cloth behind the photo

Flowers / small LED candle

Incense (optional in UK)

2. Start with a prayer (5 minutes)

a. Common chants:

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Om Namo Narayanaya

Om Namah Shivaya

Or 1–3 minutes silent prayer

b. If a priest is present:

He may recite Gita Shlokas, Ram Raksha, or Shanti Paath

3. Share memories (10–15 minutes)

Family members or friends may speak about the deceased.

4. Light refreshments

Typical items:

Tea, coffee, biscuits

Light vegetarian snacks

Simple comfort food

5. Closing Prayer

Finish with:

Om Sadgati

Om Shanti

B. Ashes Collection

C. Mourning Period & Rituals

Varies by family tradition, but typically:

Some families choose a shorter or simpler version in the UK.

Message Template to Inform Family / Friends

Sample Template

“Om Shanti.

We are gathered here today to honour the life and legacy of [Full Name], who departed from this world on [Date].

Born on [Birthdate], [Name] lived a life filled with love, compassion, and dedication to their family. They were a cherished [relationship], a source of strength, and someone who brought warmth to everyone around them.
As we stand together in this moment of farewell, we offer our prayers for their peaceful onward journey. May their soul find eternal rest in the embrace of the Divine.

Let us remember them not with sorrow alone, but with gratitude for the beautiful memories they left behind.

Om Shanti.”

WhatsApp / Text Message Template

We are sad to share that [Name] has passed away.
Funeral is on [Date] at Time, at [Crematorium Name].
Please keep the family in your prayers.

Om Shanti.

Srimad Bhagawad Gita Chapter 15

ōṃ śrī paramātmanē namaḥ
atha pañchadaśō’dhyāyaḥ ।
puruṣōttamaprāptiyōgaḥ

śrībhagavānuvācha
ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākhamaśvatthaṃ prāhuravyayam ।
Chandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṃ vēda sa vēdavit ॥ 1 ॥

adhaśchōrdhvaṃ prasṛtāstasya śākhā guṇapravṛddhā viṣayapravālāḥ।
adhaścha mūlānyanusantatāni karmānubandhīni manuṣyalōkē ॥ 2 ॥

na rūpamasyēha tathōpalabhyatē nāntō na chādirna cha sampratiṣṭhā।
aśvatthamēnaṃ suvirūḍhamūlamasaṅgaśastrēṇa dṛḍhēna Chittvā ॥ 3 ॥

tataḥ padaṃ tatparimārgitavyaṃ yasmingatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥ।
tamēva chādyaṃ puruṣaṃ prapadyē yataḥ pravṛttiḥ prasṛtā purāṇī ॥ 4 ॥

nirmānamōhā jitasaṅgadōṣā adhyātmanityā vinivṛttakāmāḥ।
dvandvairvimuktāḥ sukhaduḥkhasañjñairgachChantyamūḍhāḥ padamavyayaṃ tat ॥ 5 ॥

na tadbhāsayatē sūryō na śaśāṅkō na pāvakaḥ ।
yadgatvā na nivartantē taddhāma paramaṃ mama ॥ 6 ॥

mamaivāṃśō jīvalōkē jīvabhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ ।
manaḥṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛtisthāni karṣati ॥ 7 ॥

śarīraṃ yadavāpnōti yachchāpyutkrāmatīśvaraḥ ।
gṛhītvaitāni saṃyāti vāyurgandhānivāśayāt ॥ 8 ॥

śrōtraṃ chakṣuḥ sparśanaṃ cha rasanaṃ ghrāṇamēva cha ।
adhiṣṭhāya manaśchāyaṃ viṣayānupasēvatē ॥ 9 ॥

utkrāmantaṃ sthitaṃ vāpi bhuñjānaṃ vā guṇānvitam ।
vimūḍhā nānupaśyanti paśyanti jñānachakṣuṣaḥ ॥ 10 ॥

yatantō yōginaśchainaṃ paśyantyātmanyavasthitam ।
yatantō’pyakṛtātmānō nainaṃ paśyantyachētasaḥ ॥ 11 ॥

yadādityagataṃ tējō jagadbhāsayatē’khilam ।
yachchandramasi yachchāgnau tattējō viddhi māmakam ॥ 12 ॥

gāmāviśya cha bhūtāni dhārayāmyahamōjasā ।
puṣṇāmi chauṣadhīḥ sarvāḥ sōmō bhūtvā rasātmakaḥ ॥ 13 ॥

ahaṃ vaiśvānarō bhūtvā prāṇināṃ dēhamāśritaḥ ।
prāṇāpānasamāyuktaḥ pachāmyannaṃ chaturvidham ॥ 14 ॥

sarvasya chāhaṃ hṛdi sanniviṣṭō mattaḥ smṛtirjñānamapōhanaṃ cha।
vēdaiścha sarvairahamēva vēdyō vēdāntakṛdvēdavidēva chāham ॥ 15 ॥

dvāvimau puruṣau lōkē kṣaraśchākṣara ēva cha ।
kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni kūṭasthō’kṣara uchyatē ॥ 16 ॥

uttamaḥ puruṣastvanyaḥ paramātmētyudhāhṛtaḥ ।
yō lōkatrayamāviśya bibhartyavyaya īśvaraḥ ॥ 17 ॥

yasmātkṣaramatītō’hamakṣarādapi chōttamaḥ ।
atō’smi lōkē vēdē cha prathitaḥ puruṣōttamaḥ ॥ 18 ॥

yō māmēvamasammūḍhō jānāti puruṣōttamam ।
sa sarvavidbhajati māṃ sarvabhāvēna bhārata ॥ 19 ॥

iti guhyatamaṃ śāstramidamuktaṃ mayānagha ।
ētadbuddhvā buddhimānsyātkṛtakṛtyaścha bhārata ॥ 20 ॥

ōṃ tatsaditi śrīmadbhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṃ yōgaśāstrē
śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṃvādē puruṣōttamayōgō nāma pañchadaśō’dhyāyaḥ ॥15 ॥

पुरुषोत्तम योग**

श्रीभगवानुवाच —

ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् ।
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ॥1॥

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः ।
अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानि कर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके ॥2॥

न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा ।
अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा ॥3॥

ततः पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यं यस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूयः ।
तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्ये यतः प्रवृत्तिः प्रसृता पुराणी ॥4॥

निर्मानमोहा जितसङ्गदोषा अध्यात्मनित्या विनिवृत्तकामाः ।
द्वन्द्वैर्विमुक्ताः सुखदुःखसंज्ञैर्गच्छन्त्यमूढाः पदमव्ययं तत् ॥5॥

न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावकः ।
यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥6॥

ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः ।
मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति ॥7॥

शरीरं यदवाप्नोति यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वरः ।
गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात् ॥8॥

श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च ।
अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते ॥9॥

उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम् ।
विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः ॥10॥

यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् ।
यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः ॥11॥

यदादित्यगतं तेजो जगद्भासयतेऽखिलम् ।
यच्चन्द्रमसि यच्चाग्नौ तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम् ॥12॥

गामाविश्य च भूतानि धारयाम्यहमोजसा ।
पुष्णामि चौषधीः सर्वाः सोमो भूत्वा रसात्मकः ॥13॥

अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः ।
प्राणापानसमायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम् ॥14॥

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च ।
वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यः वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम् ॥15॥

द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च ।
क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते ॥16॥

उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः ।
यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः ॥17॥

यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः ।
अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥18॥

यो मामेवमसम्मूढः जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम् ।
स सर्वविद्भजति मां सर्वभावेन भारत ॥19॥

इति गुह्यतमं शास्त्रमिदमत्प्रोक्तवान्मया ।
एतद्बुद्ध्वा बुद्धिमान्स्यात्कृतकृत्यश्च भारत ॥20॥

Srimad Bhagawad Gita Chapter 12

ōṃ śrī paramātmanē namaḥ
atha dvādaśō’dhyāyaḥ ।
bhaktiyōgaḥ

arjuna uvācha
ēvaṃ satatayuktā yē bhaktāstvāṃ paryupāsatē ।
yē chāpyakṣaramavyaktaṃ tēṣāṃ kē yōgavittamāḥ ॥ 1 ॥

śrībhagavānuvācha
mayyāvēśya manō yē māṃ nityayuktā upāsatē ।
śraddhayā parayōpētāstē mē yuktatamā matāḥ ॥ 2 ॥

yē tvakṣaramanirdēśyamavyaktaṃ paryupāsatē ।
sarvatragamachintyaṃ cha kūṭasthamachalaṃ dhruv no am ॥ 3 ॥

sanniyamyēndriyagrāmaṃ sarvatra samabuddhayaḥ ।
tē prāpnuvanti māmēva sarvabhūtahitē ratāḥ ॥ 4 ॥

klēśō’dhikatarastēṣāmavyaktāsaktachētasām ।
avyaktā hi gatirduḥkhaṃ dēhavadbhiravāpyatē ॥ 5 ॥

yē tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi mayi sannyasya matparāḥ ।
ananyēnaiva yōgēna māṃ dhyāyanta upāsatē ॥ 6 ॥

tēṣāmahaṃ samuddhartā mṛtyusaṃsārasāgarāt ।
bhavāmi na chirātpārtha mayyāvēśitachētasām ॥ 7 ॥

mayyēva mana ādhatsva mayi buddhiṃ nivēśaya ।
nivasiṣyasi mayyēva ata ūrdhvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ॥ 8 ॥

atha chittaṃ samādhātuṃ na śaknōṣi mayi sthiram ।
abhyāsayōgēna tatō māmichChāptuṃ dhanañjaya ॥ 9 ॥

abhyāsē’pyasamarthō’si matkarmaparamō bhava ।
madarthamapi karmāṇi kurvansiddhimavāpsyasi ॥ 10 ॥

athaitadapyaśaktō’si kartuṃ madyōgamāśritaḥ ।
sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān ॥ 11 ॥

śrēyō hi jñānamabhyāsājjñānāddhyānaṃ viśiṣyatē ।
dhyānātkarmaphalatyāgastyāgāchChāntiranantaram ॥ 12 ॥

advēṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa ēva cha ।
nirmamō nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥ 13 ॥

santuṣṭaḥ satataṃ yōgī yatātmā dṛḍhaniśchayaḥ ।
mayyarpitamanōbuddhiryō madbhaktaḥ sa mē priyaḥ ॥ 14 ॥

yasmānnōdvijatē lōkō lōkānnōdvijatē cha yaḥ ।
harṣāmarṣabhayōdvēgairmuktō yaḥ sa cha mē priyaḥ ॥ 15 ॥

anapēkṣaḥ śuchirdakṣa udāsīnō gatavyathaḥ ।
sarvārambhaparityāgī yō madbhaktaḥ sa mē priyaḥ ॥ 16 ॥

yō na hṛṣyati na dvēṣṭi na śōchati na kāṅkṣati ।
śubhāśubhaparityāgī bhaktimānyaḥ sa mē priyaḥ ॥ 17 ॥

samaḥ śatrau cha mitrē cha tathā mānāpamānayōḥ ।
śītōṣṇasukhaduḥkhēṣu samaḥ saṅgavivarjitaḥ ॥ 18 ॥

tulyanindāstutirmaunī santuṣṭō yēna kēnachit ।
anikētaḥ sthiramatirbhaktimānmē priyō naraḥ ॥ 19 ॥

yē tu dharmyāmṛtamidaṃ yathōktaṃ paryupāsatē ।
śraddadhānā matparamā bhaktāstē’tīva mē priyāḥ ॥ 20 ॥

ōṃ tatsaditi śrīmadbhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṃ yōgaśāstrē
śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṃvādē bhaktiyōgō nāma dvādaśō’dhyāyaḥ ॥12 ॥

भक्ति योग**

अर्जुन उवाच —
एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते ।
ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥1॥

श्रीभगवानुवाच —
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ।
श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ॥2॥

ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यं अव्यक्तं पर्युपासते ।
सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूटस्थमचलंध्रुवम् ॥3॥

सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः ।
ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः ॥4॥

क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम् ।
अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते ॥5॥

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः ।
अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ॥6॥

तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् ।
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ॥7॥

मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय ।
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः ॥8॥

अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् ।
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ॥9॥

अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव ।
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥10॥

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः ।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं ततः कुरु यतात्मवान् ॥11॥

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते ।
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥12॥

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥13॥

सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥14॥

यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः ।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ॥15॥

अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः ।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥16॥

यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ॥17॥

समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः ।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ॥18॥

तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् ।
अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ॥19॥

ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते ।
श्रद्धाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेतीव मे प्रियाः ॥20॥

local(Basingstoke) funeral directors contact details

Titcombe & Family Independent Funeral Directors

21a High Street, Overton, RG25 3HB.
Phone: 01256 638975 or 01256 679816.

Alexander & Dry Funeral Directors

1 Seal Road, Basingstoke, RG21 7NQ.
Phone: 01256 844663.

Spencer & Peyton Funeral Directors

380 Worting Road, Basingstoke, RG22 5DZ.
Phone: 01256 323165.

Jonathan Williams Independent Funeral Directors

Unit 3, 35-41 Essex Road, Basingstoke.
Phone: 01256 595323 or 01256 817603.

Debbie Collins Independent Funeral Director

44 Folly Farm, Kingsclere Road, Basingstoke, RG26 5GJ. Phone: 01256 355556 (also serves Tadley/Overton).

Farewill (Basingstoke Specialists)

0125 658 8275 (Specializing in direct cremation).

Basingstoke Crematorium (Holmes and Family):

Stockbridge Road, North Waltham, RG25 2BA. Phone: 01256 398783.