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About this episode
Have you ever wondered how different cultures navigate the complex emotions surrounding death? In this episode, we dive deep into the rich tapestry of Tamil traditions and personal experiences of grief with Nyana Tanzer, who shares her heartfelt journey of loss, love, and the importance of community in the face of death.
Join me as I chat with Nyana about her father's passing and the profound impact it had on her life. We explore the rituals that accompany death in Tamil culture, from the significance of cremation to the heartfelt offerings made to honour the deceased. Nyana shares how these practices not only help in the grieving process but also serve as a way to keep the memory of loved ones alive.
We also discuss the role of community during times of mourning. Nyana beautifully illustrates how family, friends, and even neighbours come together to support one another, providing food and comfort when it’s needed most. It’s a reminder that while death can feel isolating, we are never truly alone in our grief. Plus, we touch on the fascinating experiences with mediums and how they can offer closure and connection to those we've lost.
This episode is a heartfelt exploration of how we can embrace the conversation around death, honour our loved ones, and find solace in our shared experiences.
Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.
Take care,
Catherine
Show notes
Guest Bio
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Bridging Life and Death: Tamil Mourning Traditions Explained
Today we are speaking with Nyana Tanzer, my nephew’s wife.
I first met Nyana 17 years ago on Easter Sunday at Heide Museum of Modern Art. Since then Nyana has become an integral part of our family. I have had the pleasure of meeting her Mum Kamla and father Vassau when they travelled to Australia 7 years ago. I have very fond memories of her father’s lamb biryani that he cooked for us. Nyana was born in Maurtius, her full name is Savida Nyana Moonoosamy Tanzer, she was raised Tamil and speaks Creole French.
Today Nyana will share with us her story and provide us with an insight to her culture.
Summary
Key points from our discussion:
- Understanding the Tamil cultural practices surrounding death and mourning.
- The importance of community support during times of grief.
- Personal stories of connection with deceased loved ones through mediums.
- The ongoing nature of grief and how it evolves over time.
Transcript
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NYANA: But we truly believe it
takes a year for a soul to move on.
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So think of it like a
bridge, one end to the other.
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So when they start on this side, they
remember everything of their life.
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You know, they remember who they used to
be, everything they felt and all that.
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00:00:18,209 --> 00:00:22,294
And as they move on ... Read More
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NYANA: But we truly believe it
takes a year for a soul to move on.
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00:00:06,370 --> 00:00:09,570
So think of it like a
bridge, one end to the other.
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00:00:09,610 --> 00:00:13,609
So when they start on this side, they
remember everything of their life.
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You know, they remember who they used to
be, everything they felt and all that.
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And as they move on to that bridge,
towards the other end of it.
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They're letting go and
forgetting their past life.
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CATHERINE: Welcome to Don't Be
Caught Dead, a podcast encouraging
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open conversations about dying
and the death of a loved one.
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I'm your host, Catherine Ashton, founder
of Critical Info, and I'm helping to
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bring your stories of death back to life.
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Because while you may not be ready
to die, At least you can be prepared.
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Don't Be Caught Dead acknowledges
the lands of the Kulin Nations
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and recognises their connection
to land, sea and community.
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We pay our respects to their Elders,
past, present and emerging and extend
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that respect to all Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander and First
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Nation peoples around the globe.
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Today, I'm speaking with Nyana
Tanzer, my nephew's wife.
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I
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first met Nyana 17 years
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CATHERINE: ago on Easter Sunday,
at the Heidi Museum of Modern Art.
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Since then, Nyana has become
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CATHERINE: an integral part of our family.
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I have had the pleasure of meeting
her mom, Kamla, and her father,
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Vasu, when they traveled to
Australia about seven years ago.
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I have very fond memories of her
father's lamb biryani that he
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cooked for us.
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Nyana was born
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CATHERINE: in Mauritius.
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Her full name is Savida Nyana
Moonoosamy Tanzer she was raised
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Tamil and speaks Creole French.
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I'm really looking forward
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to having Nyana on the show
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CATHERINE: and just having
a chat in a more formal way.
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So welcome to
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the show, Nyana.
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Thank you.
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NYANA: We've been really
looking forward to this.
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So
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CATHERINE: finally, I know it's so
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NYANA: good.
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CATHERINE: So can you
tell us a little bit about
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yourself, Nyana?
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So, My name is Nyana and Catherine
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NYANA: is my aunt by marriage and
I have two kids, two little ones.
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I was born in Mauritius and
moved here, gosh, about probably
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seven, 18 years ago, roughly.
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And I currently work in early childhood
and in the education department, which is
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really good and something I really enjoy.
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And we live in Canberra, which
is again, quite cold some
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days, but it's lovely here.
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And, yeah, so that's a little
bit about me at the moment.
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CATHERINE: So, did you originally come
to Canberra, or where did you come over
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to when you came over to 17 years ago?
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NYANA: When I first came to Australia, I
was in Melbourne, and I've got a cousin
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there, so like, I went straight there.
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I came to study, and I haven't left, so.
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And what were you studying?
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So, I came in to do a Bachelor
of Arts in Languages and a
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bit of Business Management.
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So I did that for a little bit, which
I think I'll go back to it, but at
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the moment it's really helping me
with my languages, especially with
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education and teaching my kids a little
bit about the different, you know,
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the English and the French part of
languages that we I've learned myself.
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CATHERINE: What languages do you
know and what do you speak at home?
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NYANA: So we speak here, we speak
mainly like English, you know, with
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the kids and a little bit of French.
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tiny little bit of French and a little bit
of Tamil, but not so much, not very well.
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And so these are the three languages I
can, you know, fluent English French,
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but Tamil manageable a little bit.
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CATHERINE: And what
about home in Mauritius?
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You still have family at
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NYANA: home?
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Yeah.
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So we still have, my mum is there.
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I've got my eldest sister's there.
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I've got a sister in Perth, but with
them it's, we speak Creole, which
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is a, quite a bit of French slang.
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So some words are very French, but like,
it's, It's just like an African sort
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of influence of Creole that we speak.
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So back home in Mauritius,
like, we'd be mostly Creole.
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Everyone would speak, or French, but
we're a bilingual sort of country, so
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English and French are the main languages.
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And
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CATHERINE: Creole, how has that
sort of evolved in Mauritius?
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Like, obviously, Mauritius
is off the coast of Africa.
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Yes.
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And then, from my experience with
you, you've actually had, have
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close ties with India as well.
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NYANA: Absolutely.
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So, Mauritius is very much like Australia.
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It's very much of a multicultural
country, so you'll find Indians, Africans.
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to work like, you know, indentured
laborers, merchants and everything I'm
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talking, you know, hundreds of years ago.
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So everyone brought in
their culture and languages.
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So from that, Creole was mostly the
more the dominant sort of language.
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So you'll still get people now,
like, you know, when my grandma was
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still alive, like my mom, my grandma
will speak Hindi to each other.
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You know, like it's, it's most people
like, you know, still remember a
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bit of like, you know, the languages
back, like, you know, from Africa
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or like India, things like that.
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But Creole is like how everyone will
speak is just From back then, like,
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you know, Creole became the language
from everyone moving, immigrants,
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like, all coming up, coming to Moses.
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CATHERINE: So it's like it becomes
a localized dialect, almost.
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It does.
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NYANA: Yeah.
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That's fascinating.
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It might be one word or two will say
the same, but I won't understand if they
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speak Creole to me, I won't understand.
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CATHERINE: It's interesting because
that was when we first met you
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and you know how much my husband
loves the, you know, Louisiana and
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around that area and New Orleans.
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And, and that was the first thing he
said, he's like, Creole, you speak Creole.
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That's when they speak in Louisiana.
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And again, that would probably be a
different kind of version of Creole.
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NYANA: Yeah, absolutely.
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I don't think there'd be one or two words
here and there that might be same, but
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it would just be completely different.
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Dialect, I'd say.
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But I guess even food related,
like the tomato based sort of
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food, like the Creole, like spices.
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It's quite similar but different at the
same time, like, so even food is very
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like, funny how like, you know, you
say Creole, you think of a language,
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but it's more like it's a culture.
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It's food, it's how you dress,
you know, like, it's all that.
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CATHERINE: And tell me what is some
of the, some of the food, like I, I
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mentioned lamb biryani with your dad.
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That's certainly very much in, in my mind.
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Yeah.
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One other.
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sort of things.
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There was those amazing fried
things that we snacked on
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beforehand that your mum made.
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They were amazing.
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Yeah, so they,
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NYANA: they, look, it's like food, honey.
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Again, it's Indian influenced.
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Again, there's our Mauritian take on it.
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I'm pretty sure we did, it was things
like samosas and like spring rolls
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and like little, what we call gâteau
piment, which is like chili cakes.
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Yeah.
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And I remember coming over one
time for lunch and Rod made like,
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what we call, I think beignet.
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Beignet.
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Beignet.
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He called it, I think.
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Oh, hashbrowns, polenta balls.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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And I was like, looks like while
we're eating munchies, I remember
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having that conversation with him.
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And I was like, yeah, you got to
like soak the split peas and you
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put coriander, you put cumin.
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And he's like.
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Yeah, cumin and things like that.
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And again, like I said, the Creole sort
of influence on food, it can be similar
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and then different again at the same time.
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But yeah, so like, I'm pretty sure
that was what they made that day.
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CATHERINE: Yes.
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Well, it certainly is, is a
very vivid memory in my mind.
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NYANA: Now your
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CATHERINE: dad is no longer with us.
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NYANA: Yeah.
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So since then, I think when they came
over, it was about 10 years ago, actually.
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I think it was.
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2013, 2014, they came over since
then in 2019, my dad passed away
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from some health complications, which
he had from childhood, actually.
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And, um, that was actually the
first time I ever saw someone
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who had passed away a body, like
someone who's no longer with us.
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He passed away a month, just a
very month short of his 70th.
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Birthday.
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And yeah, like, you know, you've met him.
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He's someone who is very, very
happy, you know, always up for a
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joke and, you know, loved food.
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You know, we all share that
passion and love for food.
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He had gone to India to undergo
surgery, but unfortunately he didn't
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get to do the surgery that time.
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There wasn't enough time.
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He, his health declined fairly quickly.
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And he passed away in India.
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And like I said, that for me, that
was, I was already in Australia
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when my grandma passed away.
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And so my aunties passed away and you
know, it's hard to travel all the time
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and you can't get there in time sometimes.
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And, but when my dad wasn't
well and he had gone to India,
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my mom was there with him.
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And when they saw his health was declining
fairly quickly, my sister flew over as
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well, my sister who lives in Mauritius.
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So, at the time, her kids were quite
young as well, so I'm like, you know
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what, and my youngest, at the time I had
one, my first one, and I'm like, look,
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I will fly over and help, you know, with
the kids while you're over in India.
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And that's just so, like, so happens.
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I was emotious when it all happened.
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And my sister who's in Perth,
unfortunately, she didn't have
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the time to get there, like,
in time, like, flying there.
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So yeah, so my dad passed away, so
it's five years now he's been gone and
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you know, it's you still think of the
person, you know, like at the time I
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00:09:51,674 --> 00:09:54,324
hated when people were telling me he's
in a better place, like, you know,
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00:09:54,324 --> 00:09:55,679
he's not suffering when I'm like, but.
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I'd rather he was here still, you know,
like, but then, you know, as time goes by,
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you think like, yeah, he wasn't well, he
was suffering now that suffering is gone.
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00:10:05,010 --> 00:10:08,519
Like, you know, he was in hospital
for a while, like I think three
202
00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:13,249
weeks or so for like, when he, his
health declined even very quickly,
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00:10:13,609 --> 00:10:15,249
even a month, I think it was.
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00:10:15,430 --> 00:10:18,209
And you know, it's not nice, you
know, it's not a good feeling seeing
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someone who used to be so happy.
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00:10:20,550 --> 00:10:23,899
He would go for walks all the time
with like, tubes here and there,
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00:10:23,910 --> 00:10:28,969
like, you know, it's It's a very,
um, daunting sort of, very, you know,
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00:10:28,970 --> 00:10:33,069
heartbreaking thing to see, you know,
especially when you've done the person.
209
00:10:33,250 --> 00:10:34,180
CATHERINE: That is so true.
210
00:10:34,180 --> 00:10:38,170
And were you seeing this
via FaceTime with your mum?
211
00:10:38,180 --> 00:10:39,500
Is that how, because
you were in Mauritius?
212
00:10:39,719 --> 00:10:40,459
Yeah, absolutely.
213
00:10:40,540 --> 00:10:40,699
Yeah.
214
00:10:41,140 --> 00:10:41,219
So,
215
00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:44,179
NYANA: well, it started when
I was still in Australia here.
216
00:10:44,710 --> 00:10:47,510
So we was all FaceTime, luckily
like these days, you know.
217
00:10:48,015 --> 00:10:48,735
from your phone.
218
00:10:48,745 --> 00:10:51,485
Like, we all have a little
computer in our pockets these days.
219
00:10:51,495 --> 00:10:52,175
Like, it was easy.
220
00:10:52,175 --> 00:10:53,775
You can just call and video call.
221
00:10:53,775 --> 00:10:56,705
You don't have to wait for, like,
to be connected to, like, have
222
00:10:56,705 --> 00:10:59,085
a laptop, a computer, you know.
223
00:10:59,094 --> 00:11:01,775
Like, you know, with webcams, how
we used to plug these and Skype
224
00:11:01,775 --> 00:11:02,864
and all that back in the day.
225
00:11:02,875 --> 00:11:06,075
Like, so we just used to do,
like, video calls and she'd
226
00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,890
And should like, you know, when he
was okay, it should send us photos
227
00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:16,280
and we were able to connect with him
at the time when his health declined.
228
00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,029
He was just, you know, there was,
we couldn't miss like, you know,
229
00:11:19,030 --> 00:11:20,239
he couldn't converse with us.
230
00:11:20,239 --> 00:11:22,919
Like, we couldn't, he was just
like, you know, sleeping a lot
231
00:11:22,919 --> 00:11:24,120
of the time because, you know.
232
00:11:25,495 --> 00:11:31,415
A lot of, like, medical procedures,
it's very tiring on the body, so, yeah.
233
00:11:31,545 --> 00:11:34,544
CATHERINE: And when you say
that this was the first time
234
00:11:34,545 --> 00:11:36,675
that you'd seen a dead body.
235
00:11:36,995 --> 00:11:37,745
NYANA: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
236
00:11:38,094 --> 00:11:40,334
CATHERINE: So, what was
that experience like?
237
00:11:40,334 --> 00:11:43,504
Was that also virtually, or did
you actually do that, have an
238
00:11:43,504 --> 00:11:45,014
opportunity to do that in person?
239
00:11:45,015 --> 00:11:45,935
I was,
240
00:11:45,935 --> 00:11:49,754
NYANA: this is, that's the
other thing now, so, when he
241
00:11:49,754 --> 00:11:51,374
passed away, I was emotionless.
242
00:11:52,094 --> 00:11:57,324
And they were in India, then my mom had
the option whether to do the cremation
243
00:11:57,324 --> 00:12:01,375
in India itself or do the repatriation.
244
00:12:01,675 --> 00:12:04,835
And she's like, no, we're going to
repatriate no matter what, you know,
245
00:12:05,005 --> 00:12:07,845
we'll bring him back to his house
before we farewell him, you know?
246
00:12:07,845 --> 00:12:11,564
So now bare in mind, like I was
there, it was just me, the kids
247
00:12:11,635 --> 00:12:14,615
and my brother in law was there and
had an auntie there and all that.
248
00:12:14,615 --> 00:12:14,845
But.
249
00:12:15,420 --> 00:12:18,400
You know, when someone passes
away, you've got all these things
250
00:12:18,510 --> 00:12:20,370
like, okay, where do we start?
251
00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:22,870
And he passed away in the evening.
252
00:12:23,310 --> 00:12:28,700
So I think it was seven o'clock, 730,
the time in Mauritius that evening.
253
00:12:29,580 --> 00:12:32,019
And straight away, here
I am calling airlines.
254
00:12:32,020 --> 00:12:33,759
I'll be like, okay, this just happened.
255
00:12:34,340 --> 00:12:35,170
What's our next step?
256
00:12:35,290 --> 00:12:38,600
What do you need from us to
repatriate the body over to Mauritius?
257
00:12:38,829 --> 00:12:43,090
Now, India and Mauritius, it's about
seven hours, the flight, and they
258
00:12:43,090 --> 00:12:44,400
were giving me all this information.
259
00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:44,610
Okay.
260
00:12:44,610 --> 00:12:45,529
We need this form.
261
00:12:45,529 --> 00:12:46,770
We need this paperwork.
262
00:12:47,399 --> 00:12:48,349
We need the body.
263
00:12:48,349 --> 00:12:51,280
Like, you know, they have to do, I
think it's embalming, it's called.
264
00:12:51,929 --> 00:12:52,079
CATHERINE: Yeah.
265
00:12:52,379 --> 00:12:52,399
Yeah.
266
00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:52,919
NYANA: Do.
267
00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,689
You have to do all that so
the body lasts the flight.
268
00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,330
And then it's all about timing.
269
00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,940
So like, okay, when will the flight land?
270
00:13:00,950 --> 00:13:03,600
And when will we start the
funeral process and all that?
271
00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:09,780
So that was the thing, like, so for me,
but when that happened back then, like,
272
00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:11,599
you know, the body was still in India.
273
00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,200
You don't have a concept yet
that someone's passed away.
274
00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,990
Cause you're like, so, okay,
we've got to get this done.
275
00:13:17,485 --> 00:13:21,015
You know, like we're going to get,
you know, it's embalming and all
276
00:13:21,015 --> 00:13:24,345
paperwork, it takes, it's not, it
doesn't get, it doesn't get done
277
00:13:24,345 --> 00:13:26,215
like this, you know, it takes time.
278
00:13:26,944 --> 00:13:29,875
So then I was communicating with
my sister, like, okay, we need
279
00:13:29,895 --> 00:13:31,155
to do this, we need to do that.
280
00:13:31,714 --> 00:13:36,244
You need to go get this form and start
this process and then we'll send it
281
00:13:36,314 --> 00:13:39,834
to the airline and then they can book
their flights, like, you know, move
282
00:13:39,834 --> 00:13:42,905
their flights to that particular flight.
283
00:13:42,915 --> 00:13:47,064
So it was very much like,
oh my goodness, like.
284
00:13:47,729 --> 00:13:49,890
You know, it's something you
don't expect will happen.
285
00:13:50,089 --> 00:13:50,390
And I'm
286
00:13:50,390 --> 00:13:53,770
CATHERINE: assuming that your mum,
Kamala, wanted to actually fly on
287
00:13:53,770 --> 00:13:56,699
the same flight as your dad's body.
288
00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:02,289
You know, so that's another logistic
to actually consider in amongst all of
289
00:14:02,289 --> 00:14:03,140
NYANA: that as well.
290
00:14:03,380 --> 00:14:03,830
Absolutely.
291
00:14:03,850 --> 00:14:05,639
So there was a family
friend went with them.
292
00:14:05,690 --> 00:14:09,780
So that was her, my mum, my sister,
so three, you know, because they
293
00:14:09,780 --> 00:14:11,100
already had the tickets back home.
294
00:14:11,894 --> 00:14:14,424
But it was just like, we have to
move the flight now, like, you
295
00:14:14,424 --> 00:14:18,034
know, and then the airline, like
what they have available as well.
296
00:14:18,034 --> 00:14:20,904
And the good thing with India, there's
frequent flights between Mauritius,
297
00:14:21,274 --> 00:14:22,685
like people fly to India a fair bit.
298
00:14:22,894 --> 00:14:26,014
So which is good if it was
somewhere different where
299
00:14:26,014 --> 00:14:27,194
there's only like two flights.
300
00:14:27,540 --> 00:14:28,330
Per week.
301
00:14:28,370 --> 00:14:29,050
It's even harder.
302
00:14:29,050 --> 00:14:31,230
I think pretty sure we had,
there was the flights a bit
303
00:14:31,230 --> 00:14:33,890
more frequent and seven hours.
304
00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:35,449
It's long, but it's not that long.
305
00:14:35,449 --> 00:14:38,319
It's not like you're changing
flights as well, which would
306
00:14:38,329 --> 00:14:40,039
have been harder as well.
307
00:14:40,079 --> 00:14:43,620
If there was no direct
flights, but straight away.
308
00:14:44,279 --> 00:14:48,449
First thing I did when I
found out that happened, we.
309
00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:53,570
In my culture, we light a lamp straight
away for that person and you find
310
00:14:53,570 --> 00:14:55,350
a photo of them and you put a lamp.
311
00:14:55,620 --> 00:14:58,950
You light a, um, oil, like a little
oil lamp, you light that, and you
312
00:14:58,950 --> 00:15:02,333
probably know, like in the little
lamps that we use for Diwali, like
313
00:15:02,333 --> 00:15:03,894
the little deer that we, yeah.
314
00:15:04,435 --> 00:15:07,694
That we'll like one of
these and that stays on.
315
00:15:08,115 --> 00:15:10,625
So that was the first thing I
did before getting on the phone.
316
00:15:11,084 --> 00:15:17,125
And then the, Oh, he
had like a funeral plan.
317
00:15:17,915 --> 00:15:21,155
So this is companies in Mauritius were
like, you know, it's like an insurance.
318
00:15:21,175 --> 00:15:23,105
You pay them like a monthly fee or so.
319
00:15:24,224 --> 00:15:27,444
And when it happened to fit, like
your person passes away, they
320
00:15:27,444 --> 00:15:28,734
come literally take over the boat.
321
00:15:28,764 --> 00:15:30,055
Like they come and take the body.
322
00:15:30,574 --> 00:15:33,925
They will come and like, you know, do
set up like the little tents because
323
00:15:34,175 --> 00:15:35,275
funerals in Mauritius, like it's.
324
00:15:35,964 --> 00:15:38,644
People will come, bring chairs, they
will all sit, like it's like a wake.
325
00:15:39,274 --> 00:15:41,944
They will all sit together, like, you
know, people will come straight away.
326
00:15:41,954 --> 00:15:45,794
And at night family members will come
in straight away, like my cousins
327
00:15:45,794 --> 00:15:47,614
who live close by came straight away.
328
00:15:48,134 --> 00:15:51,285
And even though it was like 10 o'clock
at night, they all came and they're like,
329
00:15:51,295 --> 00:15:52,704
okay, we've got to set up the house.
330
00:15:52,964 --> 00:15:56,274
You know, we go like, let's move
furniture, you know, because
331
00:15:56,454 --> 00:15:59,464
people will come, we'll need the
space to do, you know, bring the
332
00:15:59,464 --> 00:16:01,724
body for prayers and all that.
333
00:16:01,875 --> 00:16:03,289
So, and people will come and visit.
334
00:16:03,490 --> 00:16:06,810
My auntie came, like, seven o'clock,
the first bus she could get, she
335
00:16:06,810 --> 00:16:08,959
came over straight away the next day.
336
00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:14,430
So, true Mauritius is very much like,
a very cultural thing, like, Neighbours
337
00:16:14,449 --> 00:16:18,839
would come, I think, the next, like, my
closest neighbours came as well, came
338
00:16:18,839 --> 00:16:23,560
over, and by then, like, you know, like,
My mom wasn't there, my sister wasn't
339
00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:27,190
there, it was just my brother in law,
me and my teenager nephew's niece, and
340
00:16:27,190 --> 00:16:32,870
I was like, God, like, you know, and
then I had my youngest at the time, she
341
00:16:32,870 --> 00:16:37,090
was only like two and two and a half,
and she was like, what's going on?
342
00:16:37,129 --> 00:16:38,079
What's happening?
343
00:16:38,300 --> 00:16:42,469
CATHERINE: And so you were in
Australia when your grandmother died.
344
00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:43,420
Yes.
345
00:16:43,780 --> 00:16:46,990
And also an aunt had
passed away, hadn't they?
346
00:16:47,380 --> 00:16:47,600
Yeah.
347
00:16:48,699 --> 00:16:52,550
So was this the first time you'd
sort of stepped up as sort of in
348
00:16:52,550 --> 00:16:54,350
a matriarch kind of role where?
349
00:16:54,580 --> 00:16:56,319
NYANA: Oh, like absolutely.
350
00:16:56,319 --> 00:16:59,830
So that's something I've never done
before to like calling, like my main, my
351
00:16:59,830 --> 00:17:01,779
biggest memory is calling the airline.
352
00:17:01,779 --> 00:17:04,165
I'll be like, What do I do?
353
00:17:04,165 --> 00:17:07,845
Because, you know, like, from, I
wasn't going to make, you know, the
354
00:17:07,845 --> 00:17:09,765
airline in Mauritius, like, it's 24 7.
355
00:17:09,815 --> 00:17:11,835
I was like, you know, I'm
like, I'm already here.
356
00:17:11,905 --> 00:17:15,345
Told my mum, my sister, no, like,
I'll call because They will tell
357
00:17:15,345 --> 00:17:18,015
me what needs to be done instead
of them calling from India.
358
00:17:18,855 --> 00:17:22,815
So it was like, what do, what,
like, you know, like, what do I
359
00:17:22,815 --> 00:17:25,034
do in passing on that information?
360
00:17:25,495 --> 00:17:27,494
And then my brother in law was
looking after, like, you know,
361
00:17:27,535 --> 00:17:30,654
talking to that funeral company to
organize, you know, like, okay, we
362
00:17:30,654 --> 00:17:34,035
need to like, okay, the next day we
need to start putting on the radio.
363
00:17:34,035 --> 00:17:36,755
You need to announce like, you
know, the death and all that.
364
00:17:36,765 --> 00:17:37,057
And we do that.
365
00:17:37,057 --> 00:17:40,835
And most you'd be on paper in on the
newspaper and you'll be on the radio.
366
00:17:41,705 --> 00:17:42,685
Wow, okay.
367
00:17:42,735 --> 00:17:43,705
Yeah, yeah.
368
00:17:43,774 --> 00:17:47,734
Look, look, Mauritius is a small
little country, so, you know.
369
00:17:47,735 --> 00:17:48,335
What's the
370
00:17:48,335 --> 00:17:49,534
CATHERINE: population of Mauritius?
371
00:17:50,195 --> 00:17:54,685
NYANA: Now, it's, oh goodness,
I would say less than 2 million.
372
00:17:55,245 --> 00:17:56,084
CATHERINE: Yeah, yeah, right.
373
00:17:56,134 --> 00:18:00,725
Isn't that amazing that, like, I've heard
certainly, you know, when, Barry died,
374
00:18:00,725 --> 00:18:05,585
my father, you know, grandpa, like we,
we put it in the local newspaper, but you
375
00:18:05,585 --> 00:18:07,555
also actually did it on the radio as well.
376
00:18:07,565 --> 00:18:07,775
Yeah,
377
00:18:07,775 --> 00:18:08,555
NYANA: they do on the radio.
378
00:18:08,585 --> 00:18:08,835
Yep.
379
00:18:09,535 --> 00:18:10,705
Online on the radio.
380
00:18:11,105 --> 00:18:15,174
And like, you know, like
you'll be twice a day to do it.
381
00:18:15,174 --> 00:18:17,295
So there's a morning one and
then an evening one to do.
382
00:18:18,604 --> 00:18:20,019
And a lot of like.
383
00:18:20,610 --> 00:18:27,500
Elderly people rely on that because,
look, not everyone in Mauritius, like my
384
00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:33,109
parents are the generation who've gone
to school and learned, like, you know,
385
00:18:33,110 --> 00:18:36,780
learned how to read, how to write, but
like my generation, like my grandma,
386
00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:41,230
they didn't go to school, you know,
and if they did, they probably went
387
00:18:41,230 --> 00:18:44,640
for like first grade or second grade,
like, you know, so a lot of elderly
388
00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:46,330
people don't know how to read and write.
389
00:18:46,390 --> 00:18:47,570
So they rely on radio.
390
00:18:47,885 --> 00:18:48,955
Of course.
391
00:18:49,374 --> 00:18:52,569
For all the news and knowing like, Oh,
I know this person who's passed away.
392
00:18:52,569 --> 00:18:54,705
And the thing in Mauritius, right?
393
00:18:54,754 --> 00:18:55,735
People don't move around.
394
00:18:56,235 --> 00:19:00,454
Like my dad was like, where he is,
like, you know, we've had that land,
395
00:19:00,625 --> 00:19:04,590
God, like, you know, the, the, my
parents house, like it gets, just
396
00:19:04,590 --> 00:19:06,224
gets passed on to like generations.
397
00:19:06,224 --> 00:19:10,364
Like I block a land, probably a
hundred years, you know, 150 years.
398
00:19:10,364 --> 00:19:11,754
Like, you know, this
has been like in that.
399
00:19:12,145 --> 00:19:15,825
I would like the family and that's
what everyone really, it's very rare.
400
00:19:15,985 --> 00:19:16,945
People move around.
401
00:19:16,945 --> 00:19:20,375
Even when you get married, like my mom
got married and came to, you know, this
402
00:19:20,375 --> 00:19:22,685
house, they were married at the time.
403
00:19:22,685 --> 00:19:25,864
They were married 41, 42
years when my dad passed away.
404
00:19:26,634 --> 00:19:28,424
So she knows all the neighbours as well.
405
00:19:28,424 --> 00:19:30,245
Like, you know, like you've
been there for 40 years.
406
00:19:30,254 --> 00:19:33,260
So she knows everyone, you know, So
407
00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:37,040
CATHERINE: you were the first generation
to really, you and Nila were the first
408
00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,613
ones to really move out of Mauritius.
409
00:19:39,613 --> 00:19:40,136
Yeah,
410
00:19:40,136 --> 00:19:40,659
NYANA: absolutely.
411
00:19:40,660 --> 00:19:41,720
Yeah, absolutely.
412
00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:42,709
Oh my goodness.
413
00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:43,319
Okay.
414
00:19:43,319 --> 00:19:44,029
Yeah.
415
00:19:44,269 --> 00:19:44,649
Yeah, absolutely.
416
00:19:44,959 --> 00:19:50,490
And my generation now, my school
friends, probably half of them
417
00:19:50,490 --> 00:19:51,510
aren't in Mauritius anymore.
418
00:19:51,510 --> 00:19:53,410
Like, you know, a lot of my
friends are all over the sea.
419
00:19:53,410 --> 00:19:56,150
So like, it's funny how like
generations, how they are like,
420
00:19:56,150 --> 00:19:57,050
you know, my grandparents.
421
00:19:57,780 --> 00:20:00,760
You know how to read or write and
then my parents went to school, you
422
00:20:00,770 --> 00:20:03,710
know, got to do like, you know, Fish
High School and things like that.
423
00:20:03,710 --> 00:20:08,440
And then my generation, you know, went
to uni and then move, you know, like
424
00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,060
we were able to like move countries and
425
00:20:11,499 --> 00:20:15,124
CATHERINE: Such change in really
probably a 50 year period, isn't it?
426
00:20:15,125 --> 00:20:15,424
Yeah.
427
00:20:15,805 --> 00:20:16,225
Yeah.
428
00:20:16,295 --> 00:20:16,665
Yeah.
429
00:20:16,895 --> 00:20:17,625
Phenomenal.
430
00:20:18,165 --> 00:20:21,685
And when you found yourself in
this situation, um, with your
431
00:20:21,685 --> 00:20:23,195
brother in law and the, the,
432
00:20:23,245 --> 00:20:25,505
NYANA: yeah, your niece
433
00:20:25,515 --> 00:20:29,574
CATHERINE: and nephew, you know,
so as I was saying, you hadn't
434
00:20:29,575 --> 00:20:31,074
actually been there for the other.
435
00:20:31,225 --> 00:20:32,555
Family members funerals.
436
00:20:32,555 --> 00:20:33,854
NYANA: So
437
00:20:33,855 --> 00:20:35,625
CATHERINE: how did you go navigating that?
438
00:20:35,745 --> 00:20:39,615
Was it the funeral company that helped you
kind of work out what you needed to do, or
439
00:20:39,615 --> 00:20:41,765
did you always know what you needed to do?
440
00:20:42,425 --> 00:20:42,684
NYANA: No.
441
00:20:42,684 --> 00:20:46,245
So once we've sorted out
repatriation and what's happening.
442
00:20:46,810 --> 00:20:48,180
Then the cultural part came in it.
443
00:20:48,180 --> 00:20:54,910
So straight away, I'm quite sure for the
first, the first day or three days, you
444
00:20:54,910 --> 00:20:56,930
do not turn off the lights in the house.
445
00:20:57,149 --> 00:20:58,440
You light up the whole house.
446
00:20:58,500 --> 00:21:00,969
So nighttime you go to bed,
the light is on, you know, like
447
00:21:00,970 --> 00:21:02,820
you turn on in the main areas.
448
00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,730
Now, if you're asking what,
why, I am not too sure.
449
00:21:05,740 --> 00:21:07,459
Like it's just something
we've always done.
450
00:21:07,469 --> 00:21:08,209
Like I know.
451
00:21:08,729 --> 00:21:11,689
And my mom was telling me, turn on all
the lights, leave all the lights on.
452
00:21:12,110 --> 00:21:15,160
And I remember her talking about it
when my grandma passed away, like, you
453
00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,760
know, in her house, they stayed there
and they had to turn on all the lights.
454
00:21:18,140 --> 00:21:19,320
So that was the first thing we did.
455
00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,129
And like, you know, the lamp,
the first thing we do is light
456
00:21:21,170 --> 00:21:22,820
the lamp for that person.
457
00:21:23,029 --> 00:21:24,649
CATHERINE: And what's
the significance of that?
458
00:21:24,879 --> 00:21:27,260
Is that just as a memorial
459
00:21:27,260 --> 00:21:27,310
NYANA: or?
460
00:21:28,099 --> 00:21:31,760
It is in a way, but also
like, it's a light for them.
461
00:21:31,780 --> 00:21:35,040
Like, you know, it's like
to, to light their way in.
462
00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:41,070
The God that in Rakosha we, we pray,
it's Shiva, if you've heard about
463
00:21:41,070 --> 00:21:46,989
Shiva, so you play mantras and songs
about Shiva with our lamb, like
464
00:21:46,989 --> 00:21:48,320
you just play that all the time.
465
00:21:48,350 --> 00:21:50,779
I was turning it off at night
because, you know, kids need to sleep.
466
00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:56,520
So like, you know, then organizing like
what we'll need, but like I said, a
467
00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:58,179
lot of it got done in India as well.
468
00:21:58,190 --> 00:21:58,909
Like the clothes.
469
00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,730
That the person was going to wear, so
then it's traditional, like a kurta,
470
00:22:04,020 --> 00:22:05,850
traditional clothes that they wear.
471
00:22:06,399 --> 00:22:08,459
So my mom had that sorted in India.
472
00:22:08,459 --> 00:22:09,449
She did all that.
473
00:22:10,130 --> 00:22:15,710
But let's say if that had
happened in Mauritius, so they
474
00:22:15,710 --> 00:22:17,159
would have bathed the body.
475
00:22:17,540 --> 00:22:21,520
So it's like in a way, it's like you
purificate, like the purification.
476
00:22:22,399 --> 00:22:26,379
Of the body, they would have, you
know, bathe the body and straight
477
00:22:26,379 --> 00:22:30,610
away wrapped it up in like, and
put that traditional tire on them,
478
00:22:30,610 --> 00:22:31,870
like the night that it happened.
479
00:22:31,899 --> 00:22:36,930
And they start like, you
know, there'd be like flowers,
480
00:22:37,140 --> 00:22:38,910
darlings and things like that.
481
00:22:39,659 --> 00:22:41,519
You, you'd get straightaway.
482
00:22:41,580 --> 00:22:45,269
CATHERINE: And is there a
particular flower that is used or
483
00:22:45,634 --> 00:22:45,854
NYANA: No?
484
00:22:45,959 --> 00:22:46,229
No.
485
00:22:46,559 --> 00:22:47,699
Anything really.
486
00:22:47,699 --> 00:22:48,840
Any flowers really.
487
00:22:49,415 --> 00:22:52,925
I remember the first couple of days,
the roses for him, you know, us
488
00:22:52,925 --> 00:22:56,385
girls, like we all got him like little
roses and all that, but it's really
489
00:22:56,385 --> 00:23:00,995
eddy flowers, like eddy flowers,
really, that's available at the time.
490
00:23:01,604 --> 00:23:05,194
Look, emotions, usually funerals
happen pretty quickly within like
491
00:23:05,224 --> 00:23:07,924
24 hours, 48 hours, you know.
492
00:23:08,225 --> 00:23:13,595
If autosignal needs to be done, they
will do that, but it's fairly quick.
493
00:23:13,875 --> 00:23:17,465
So usually within 24 hours, 48 hours,
funerals happen when someone passes
494
00:23:17,465 --> 00:23:20,315
away, but this one was a long process.
495
00:23:20,355 --> 00:23:24,715
Like I think it was, look, I think it was
either Monday or Tuesday, he passed away
496
00:23:24,715 --> 00:23:29,924
and funeral wasn't until like Friday,
so for us it was a long day, like it was
497
00:23:29,924 --> 00:23:35,584
a long time because again, the flight,
getting all that organized took most of
498
00:23:35,584 --> 00:23:38,364
the time and then the actual company.
499
00:23:38,364 --> 00:23:38,694
Yeah.
500
00:23:38,695 --> 00:23:38,709
Yeah.
501
00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:42,220
The day of the funeral, or the day
before they came in to set up like
502
00:23:42,220 --> 00:23:45,480
a big tent so people can sit on
anything, and they brought chairs.
503
00:23:45,899 --> 00:23:48,720
There's plastic chairs, picnic chairs
sort of thing, they brought all that.
504
00:23:49,260 --> 00:23:51,320
Usually they would have provided a coffin.
505
00:23:52,005 --> 00:23:57,815
Yeah, but because it was, the body was
flying in, it was already like a flight,
506
00:23:57,945 --> 00:23:59,315
you know, one that can be on the plane.
507
00:23:59,715 --> 00:23:59,925
Yeah.
508
00:23:59,965 --> 00:24:04,024
So, and by then you don't move the
body, you know, like just left him in
509
00:24:04,024 --> 00:24:05,915
there, but mostly what we had to do.
510
00:24:05,915 --> 00:24:07,714
So, so my brother in law
was looking after that.
511
00:24:07,715 --> 00:24:10,389
So you gotta like find all
the paperwork, like, you know.
512
00:24:10,390 --> 00:24:12,889
birth certificates, like, you
know, because of course he
513
00:24:12,889 --> 00:24:13,570
didn't, they didn't travel.
514
00:24:13,570 --> 00:24:18,469
He only had his password with him,
so you gotta need all this paperwork.
515
00:24:18,469 --> 00:24:21,927
So that was like the hunt for all
this, you know, so my brother in
516
00:24:21,927 --> 00:24:25,319
law was looking after all this,
like all the paperwork sort of that
517
00:24:25,319 --> 00:24:27,070
we knew required to do all that.
518
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,480
So, yeah, that was, look, like I said,
until you see the body, like, it doesn't
519
00:24:32,530 --> 00:24:34,540
sink in like, Oh, someone's passed away.
520
00:24:34,900 --> 00:24:38,030
And then the day the body came
as well, like, you know, it just
521
00:24:38,409 --> 00:24:39,259
looks like they're sleeping really.
522
00:24:39,260 --> 00:24:42,329
Like, he had just been on the flight and
the way they had done the body, like, you
523
00:24:42,329 --> 00:24:45,770
know, the embalming, I think that was the
first time I've touched someone like that.
524
00:24:45,770 --> 00:24:47,393
It was like touching an ice cube.
525
00:24:47,393 --> 00:24:50,290
Like, it was very hard, like,
because they had to do it.
526
00:24:50,340 --> 00:24:54,409
So the body would last the seven
hours on a flight and everyone
527
00:24:54,409 --> 00:24:55,649
came like, they went like.
528
00:24:55,959 --> 00:24:58,600
We've got people in the front of
the yard, in the house, on the
529
00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,060
street, like, you know, people who
530
00:25:01,060 --> 00:25:01,389
CATHERINE: knew.
531
00:25:01,899 --> 00:25:07,089
So as part of your tradition that
everyone, it's like a public viewing
532
00:25:07,089 --> 00:25:11,319
where they come and pay their respects
and view your father's body and
533
00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:13,039
pay their respects to the family.
534
00:25:13,479 --> 00:25:15,600
And that's, is that in?
535
00:25:16,305 --> 00:25:20,985
The lead up to the funeral, like, or
is that on the day of the funeral?
536
00:25:20,985 --> 00:25:21,835
How does that work
537
00:25:22,155 --> 00:25:23,005
NYANA: on the day of the funeral?
538
00:25:23,005 --> 00:25:26,775
So literally, when the body came,
it got brought into the house and
539
00:25:26,775 --> 00:25:29,725
then everyone like, sort of like
lined up and like, you know, to pay
540
00:25:29,725 --> 00:25:31,995
their respect to him and it was open.
541
00:25:32,905 --> 00:25:36,945
Like, open cast and everyone could
see him and pay their respect and
542
00:25:36,945 --> 00:25:40,985
like, he was someone who was very,
very, very active in society as well.
543
00:25:41,505 --> 00:25:44,965
Like I said, he's lived in that
suburb, in that village his whole life.
544
00:25:45,584 --> 00:25:46,334
His parents did.
545
00:25:46,334 --> 00:25:49,344
So everyone, you know, knew
who he was and I think he was
546
00:25:49,344 --> 00:25:51,345
very active with the community.
547
00:25:51,345 --> 00:25:55,304
So everyone knew like,
okay, he's passed away.
548
00:25:55,304 --> 00:25:58,355
So everyone came, paid their respect
to him and my mom and you know,
549
00:25:58,855 --> 00:26:03,085
and in that time to the reprisals
that gets done, the mantras.
550
00:26:03,435 --> 00:26:06,524
Like, you know, the songs,
everyone's singing, like it's
551
00:26:06,524 --> 00:26:10,145
just to help the purification
and helping the soul to move on.
552
00:26:10,685 --> 00:26:14,285
And also in my culture, like the
women, when they get married, they
553
00:26:14,285 --> 00:26:19,084
have to wear like, like a necklace,
which symbolizes like a wedding ring.
554
00:26:19,475 --> 00:26:23,525
So this has to be removed because
that's like my, like my, my mom,
555
00:26:23,535 --> 00:26:24,685
because her husband's passed away.
556
00:26:24,685 --> 00:26:25,745
So she can't wear that anymore.
557
00:26:26,324 --> 00:26:26,685
You know?
558
00:26:26,685 --> 00:26:30,904
So there's a prayer for that as well for
her, like just to get to remove that.
559
00:26:30,905 --> 00:26:31,599
And does
560
00:26:31,599 --> 00:26:32,986
CATHERINE: it follow a certain
561
00:26:32,986 --> 00:26:34,424
structure, Nyana, or like,
562
00:26:34,454 --> 00:26:36,615
CATHERINE: and, and just,
just so I'm trying to get my
563
00:26:36,734 --> 00:26:38,014
head around how this works.
564
00:26:38,265 --> 00:26:42,055
So in the, the lead up to your
father's body arriving in the home,
565
00:26:42,455 --> 00:26:45,045
you've already got people who are
arriving and giving their respects.
566
00:26:45,475 --> 00:26:49,625
And I'm checking on you and do
they provide food during this time?
567
00:26:49,855 --> 00:26:50,095
NYANA: Yes.
568
00:26:50,525 --> 00:26:53,555
So they did because my
dad was being cremated.
569
00:26:53,754 --> 00:26:58,045
So when that happens, not allowed
to light anything in the house
570
00:26:58,095 --> 00:27:00,115
and it's all gas stove in Mocious.
571
00:27:00,844 --> 00:27:03,284
So we weren't allowed to
cook, to prepare anything.
572
00:27:03,975 --> 00:27:08,315
So neighbours and family members
brought us all our meals like tea in
573
00:27:08,315 --> 00:27:10,615
the morning, like breakfast, snacks.
574
00:27:11,185 --> 00:27:14,054
So it's part of that cultural thing.
575
00:27:14,054 --> 00:27:17,810
Like, you know, and that, like
I said, But I thought he passed
576
00:27:17,810 --> 00:27:20,220
away and to the funeral, there
was a good three, four days.
577
00:27:20,230 --> 00:27:24,490
So for three, four days we're being
cooked and we relied on family, like, you
578
00:27:24,490 --> 00:27:27,460
know, neighbours to come and bring food
for us, which they did straight away.
579
00:27:27,460 --> 00:27:30,470
Like, you know, even though my sister was
like, you know, organizing with a phone,
580
00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:32,099
like people knew like straight away.
581
00:27:32,179 --> 00:27:36,449
We had a family friend whose husband
passed away not long before that.
582
00:27:36,449 --> 00:27:40,070
And I remember she came in the next
day and brought me like, A big basket
583
00:27:40,070 --> 00:27:43,970
and it was like, she made tea, she
brought milk, sugar, everything.
584
00:27:43,970 --> 00:27:48,480
And she made like fried little
fried food, like for us to eat.
585
00:27:48,659 --> 00:27:51,690
And they were asking me like,
you know, cause I said, I had
586
00:27:51,690 --> 00:27:52,700
my youngest with me at the time.
587
00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:57,080
Like mom had only the one and she
was two and a half and I said, she
588
00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:58,259
wasn't understanding what's going on.
589
00:27:58,470 --> 00:28:00,250
And at the time she wanted
to eat this and eat that.
590
00:28:00,250 --> 00:28:03,910
And they were like asking me like, and
it had to be vegetarian food as well.
591
00:28:03,910 --> 00:28:05,880
So you, you fast as well.
592
00:28:06,349 --> 00:28:07,680
It's our new vegetables.
593
00:28:07,935 --> 00:28:11,115
You eat, you don't, there's no meat,
you don't eat meat during the time.
594
00:28:11,735 --> 00:28:16,455
So, like I said, you rely so much on
families and neighbours, you know, like
595
00:28:16,455 --> 00:28:18,465
to, to help you with things and set up.
596
00:28:19,005 --> 00:28:22,024
We had to take up, like, you know,
make the walls all bare in the house.
597
00:28:22,024 --> 00:28:22,535
Sorry about that.
598
00:28:22,875 --> 00:28:25,385
Like, one of the neighbours is coming,
like, you know, she came with me and
599
00:28:25,385 --> 00:28:26,574
now she's just pulling everything out.
600
00:28:26,614 --> 00:28:28,055
She's like, where do
you want me to put this?
601
00:28:28,055 --> 00:28:29,665
And So you have to remove
602
00:28:29,935 --> 00:28:32,385
CATHERINE: all of the, the
adornments from the wall.
603
00:28:32,630 --> 00:28:33,050
NYANA: Oh, we did.
604
00:28:33,110 --> 00:28:33,330
Yes.
605
00:28:33,330 --> 00:28:35,299
Yeah.
606
00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:35,480
Yeah.
607
00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:37,450
You just, you're in mourning.
608
00:28:37,450 --> 00:28:42,780
So like, you know, so you, you took
everything off the walls and you just
609
00:28:42,780 --> 00:28:45,770
take everything off and like, I'm bars
while on the death, you know, we have
610
00:28:45,770 --> 00:28:47,790
to cover mirrors and things like that.
611
00:28:47,899 --> 00:28:48,539
I don't know why.
612
00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,840
It's just something that, you know,
family, the ancestors always did.
613
00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:54,409
So it's like something
that just carried on.
614
00:28:54,429 --> 00:28:55,590
We just do it.
615
00:28:56,095 --> 00:28:58,711
Yeah, and I never thought about
asking why we did this, like, I think
616
00:28:58,711 --> 00:29:00,066
it's just a cultural thing, though.
617
00:29:00,066 --> 00:29:00,518
Well, I
618
00:29:00,518 --> 00:29:02,995
CATHERINE: suppose it's something
that you've always just done,
619
00:29:03,015 --> 00:29:03,425
NYANA: isn't it?
620
00:29:03,475 --> 00:29:04,435
Yeah, absolutely.
621
00:29:04,625 --> 00:29:09,175
CATHERINE: I have to say that there
is something in the fact that your
622
00:29:09,175 --> 00:29:15,245
tradition has recognised that people
who are in mourning and in shock and
623
00:29:15,255 --> 00:29:22,040
in that sort of state of grief, That
A, they probably can't really digest
624
00:29:22,090 --> 00:29:24,160
really heavy foods during that time.
625
00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:29,190
So you're, you know, it's actually adopted
to a more vegetarian, lighter diet.
626
00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:34,379
And then also the fact that it's
actually encouraged that, you know,
627
00:29:34,410 --> 00:29:38,509
you're not the ones cooking, but it's
the community taking care of you.
628
00:29:38,510 --> 00:29:42,580
That is a beautiful thing at a
time where you really need it.
629
00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:43,800
NYANA: Yeah, exactly.
630
00:29:44,180 --> 00:29:47,200
I'm not sure if it's related
to the cremation part of it.
631
00:29:47,350 --> 00:29:51,460
Like that you don't light a fire because
the next fire that's getting lit is either
632
00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:54,329
for prayers like lamps or for the pyre.
633
00:29:54,860 --> 00:29:56,850
Like, so I'm not sure.
634
00:29:57,049 --> 00:29:57,719
I think it's something.
635
00:29:58,230 --> 00:29:59,900
to do with that in relation as well.
636
00:29:59,940 --> 00:30:00,150
So,
637
00:30:00,390 --> 00:30:00,840
CATHERINE: well, my
638
00:30:00,870 --> 00:30:02,810
logistical brain, Nyana, thinks it's
639
00:30:02,810 --> 00:30:03,780
CATHERINE: very practical.
640
00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:08,560
I think it's, you know, from a,
from a caring and a community
641
00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,319
perspective, I think it's amazing.
642
00:30:10,450 --> 00:30:10,930
Yeah.
643
00:30:11,439 --> 00:30:15,030
NYANA: And I feel like even if like, you
know, you are allowed to like, A file
644
00:30:15,090 --> 00:30:19,400
like you need to cook meals and all that
someone would have come to cook the meals
645
00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,580
for you in the house even in the house
if they're not bringing it and they would
646
00:30:22,580 --> 00:30:25,770
have come and like just start cooking
like you know like okay eat this don't
647
00:30:25,770 --> 00:30:28,649
you worry about that like if i'm like
you know something like that would have
648
00:30:28,649 --> 00:30:32,980
happened you know so But the fact that
there's no fire, like in the morning
649
00:30:32,980 --> 00:30:34,520
in that house, you don't light a fire.
650
00:30:34,650 --> 00:30:38,200
Like when you start thinking, make
your walls bare, but it was just, we
651
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:42,299
did that just in the lounge room where
the body would be at the time of the
652
00:30:42,340 --> 00:30:44,389
funeral and prayers and all that.
653
00:30:44,390 --> 00:30:48,550
So a priest will be there at the time
of the funeral and do all the prayers.
654
00:31:10,399 --> 00:31:10,659
Yeah.
655
00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:14,110
So it'd be in the house.
656
00:31:14,270 --> 00:31:16,420
People do it in their
house, in their own house.
657
00:31:16,550 --> 00:31:18,860
And there'll be a priest that
will come like in, in our culture,
658
00:31:18,860 --> 00:31:23,329
it's called a Swami who, um, who
specializes in like funerals.
659
00:31:24,165 --> 00:31:28,815
Because it's different kinds of prayers
like, you know, from a wedding, you know,
660
00:31:28,815 --> 00:31:31,775
it's a different prayer compared to like
a funeral, it's completely different.
661
00:31:32,315 --> 00:31:37,304
So you're praying for the soul, you know,
there's this word that's called Moksha.
662
00:31:37,435 --> 00:31:39,065
I don't know if you've heard of that word.
663
00:31:39,904 --> 00:31:44,585
Moksha is about, you know,
it's like liberation.
664
00:31:44,604 --> 00:31:45,585
So like release.
665
00:31:46,770 --> 00:31:47,210
birth.
666
00:31:47,220 --> 00:31:51,330
So like, you know, cause we believe
like in Hinduism, we believe
667
00:31:51,340 --> 00:31:53,480
like my Tamil culture, Tamil.
668
00:31:54,020 --> 00:31:59,570
So you rebirth every time, you
know, like until you attain Moksha.
669
00:31:59,830 --> 00:32:04,150
So that we don't, you know, that you've
liberated your soul, like, you know, you
670
00:32:04,150 --> 00:32:06,040
release a cycle of rebirth basically.
671
00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:06,890
So.
672
00:32:07,710 --> 00:32:14,440
A lot of these prayers, you know, and
Shiva, like, he looks after souls, you
673
00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:18,950
know, that's why you pray him a lot
during that time someone's passing,
674
00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:23,399
because you pray to Shiva to take care
of that soul, you know, and to help if
675
00:32:23,439 --> 00:32:28,100
that soul hasn't attained moksha, you
help onto like, you know, their, their
676
00:32:28,100 --> 00:32:32,720
reincarnation, like, you know, so we
pray that a lot during that time, and
677
00:32:32,860 --> 00:32:37,120
that goes for a good year, So after the
funeral, I'm pretty sure two, three days
678
00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:38,680
after, like you do like a big prayer.
679
00:32:39,450 --> 00:32:45,720
I remember we had all the meals that
my dad loved, everything he loved.
680
00:32:46,059 --> 00:32:48,900
It's like an offering, you
know, you have that there.
681
00:32:49,430 --> 00:32:52,535
They do what we call Pindam.
682
00:32:53,095 --> 00:32:56,765
That's the Tamil word for it,
which is a rice ball offering.
683
00:32:56,765 --> 00:33:00,964
So like they make rice balls because
it's like, it helps, it's, it
684
00:33:00,964 --> 00:33:03,934
represents like you're feeding the
soul with like rice balls and like
685
00:33:03,935 --> 00:33:06,024
to help them to move on the journey.
686
00:33:06,634 --> 00:33:11,634
And I remember one of the prayer,
other prayer, the priest is asking
687
00:33:11,985 --> 00:33:16,015
the name of like, you know, my
dad's parents and grandparents.
688
00:33:16,015 --> 00:33:18,085
Cause like, you know, that offering
goes to them as well, cause
689
00:33:18,085 --> 00:33:21,995
they were the ancestors and he
wouldn't be here if not for them.
690
00:33:22,025 --> 00:33:23,005
So you offering.
691
00:33:23,450 --> 00:33:25,390
You know, for them as well.
692
00:33:25,950 --> 00:33:30,250
So these rituals in my culture is
basically a lot to do with like cleansing
693
00:33:30,250 --> 00:33:34,969
the soul because it's less technically
like they left the physical world now, you
694
00:33:34,969 --> 00:33:38,640
know, so you hop for their reincarnation.
695
00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:42,480
You help with like, where
they're going to be rebirth.
696
00:33:42,529 --> 00:33:44,880
And it's a lot to do with karma as well.
697
00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:45,750
Believe a lot of that.
698
00:33:45,750 --> 00:33:48,390
Like, you know, you believe
you want a good person.
699
00:33:48,965 --> 00:33:50,735
You're not going to have a good rebirth.
700
00:33:50,745 --> 00:33:53,945
So the thing like, and if you've done
good deeds, you know, your next birth
701
00:33:54,075 --> 00:33:56,015
will be like better than this life.
702
00:33:56,045 --> 00:33:57,545
You, the previous life that they had.
703
00:33:57,985 --> 00:34:01,305
So you kind of like, you pray for the
ghost to make it easy for them to move on.
704
00:34:01,945 --> 00:34:05,054
And like I said, there's like
monthly prayers that happens,
705
00:34:05,054 --> 00:34:05,975
like, you know, offerings.
706
00:34:05,975 --> 00:34:09,854
And I'm like every month on a
certain lunar calendar, I would
707
00:34:09,854 --> 00:34:14,235
look, my mom, my sister used to go
to the temple and make a prayer.
708
00:34:14,235 --> 00:34:17,575
And during that time, like it's
believed every offering you do is
709
00:34:17,575 --> 00:34:19,445
for the God, but also for the soul.
710
00:34:19,770 --> 00:34:22,140
You know, like they're going to
have food to eat, they're going to
711
00:34:22,140 --> 00:34:26,430
have water to drink, like during
that time until like it's one year.
712
00:34:26,770 --> 00:34:31,130
And if you do this big prayer, and I
remember I was pregnant at the time.
713
00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:35,839
And I remember like it was a video
call and I was having the biggest
714
00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,969
craving for chips at the time.
715
00:34:37,969 --> 00:34:39,590
And I'm like, Oh my goodness.
716
00:34:39,660 --> 00:34:41,500
And, you know, during my
pregnancy, how sick I get.
717
00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:46,600
And I remember watching and I'm like,
So right now I'm like this craving like
718
00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:52,260
come at a later time like And oh my
goodness, I remember that quite that
719
00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:59,250
memory of it But we truly believe it
takes a year for a soul to move on so
720
00:35:00,065 --> 00:35:03,645
Think of it like a bridge, one end to
the, you know, one end to the other.
721
00:35:03,695 --> 00:35:08,105
So when they start on this side, they
remember everything of their life, you
722
00:35:08,105 --> 00:35:12,275
know, they remember who they used to be,
everything, their family and all that.
723
00:35:12,275 --> 00:35:16,955
And as they move on to that bridge,
towards the other end of it, they're
724
00:35:16,955 --> 00:35:19,224
letting go and forgetting their past life.
725
00:35:21,735 --> 00:35:25,305
I remember like, I don't know, people will
probably think of me like, you know, I'm
726
00:35:25,305 --> 00:35:29,625
crazy or something, but like, I remember
dreaming of my dad a lot during that
727
00:35:29,665 --> 00:35:35,185
time, like a lot, that one year after he
passed away, like a lot of like dreams, a
728
00:35:35,185 --> 00:35:39,434
lot of things, and I said I was pregnant
at the time, and I was so sick, and in
729
00:35:39,435 --> 00:35:44,315
that time, um, my husband had to go away,
Ben had to go away for work, and I was
730
00:35:44,315 --> 00:35:47,620
like, I suffer for both my pregnancies.
731
00:35:47,620 --> 00:35:52,520
I suffered really badly of hyperemesis
and I was still caring at the time for
732
00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:56,330
like my daughter who was three at the time
and her not understanding that, you know,
733
00:35:56,330 --> 00:35:57,680
mommy's sickness duress and all that.
734
00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,970
And I remember thinking of my dad so
much during that time and it's funny.
735
00:36:01,970 --> 00:36:05,680
Like, I don't know, like it was in my
head and I feel better like, you know,
736
00:36:05,990 --> 00:36:10,705
and I dream of him saying like, yeah,
you're all good, you know, and things
737
00:36:10,705 --> 00:36:15,665
are like a lot of different, you know,
dreams for me during that one year.
738
00:36:16,255 --> 00:36:21,495
And again, like when he was almost one
year, I had a dream and I will always
739
00:36:21,495 --> 00:36:27,415
remember this dream of him telling me, and
he was in that attire that he wore at the
740
00:36:27,415 --> 00:36:32,165
funeral attire and he was saying goodbye,
like, hey, and he was packing a suitcase.
741
00:36:32,325 --> 00:36:36,285
He's like, yeah, I'm going
away now, you know, and.
742
00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:42,060
It's funny, like if I dream of him
now, like, you know, my dream sequence
743
00:36:42,060 --> 00:36:46,640
of him, I've always dreamt of him as
this like 45 year old young guy, you
744
00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:51,349
know, like I wouldn't see his face
as clearly now anymore, but over the
745
00:36:51,350 --> 00:36:55,010
one year, like it was like having a
face to face conversation with him.
746
00:36:56,620 --> 00:36:57,130
Yeah.
747
00:36:57,130 --> 00:36:59,850
But like I say, like,
he's one year with us.
748
00:37:00,630 --> 00:37:02,140
That's why I believe
he's one year with us.
749
00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,080
He's finished, you
know, he's moved on now.
750
00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:08,700
Like, you know, even though I know they
say like, no, it's all still around.
751
00:37:08,700 --> 00:37:11,870
I around, but like, actually,
that was my experience with that.
752
00:37:11,969 --> 00:37:15,879
What we talk about, like one year
of having this all around you.
753
00:37:16,539 --> 00:37:17,475
That was my thing.
754
00:37:17,475 --> 00:37:20,500
And like, I felt him a
lot during that time.
755
00:37:20,500 --> 00:37:24,900
Like he passed away in the month of
August and it was around that time I
756
00:37:24,900 --> 00:37:29,240
got one year finished and I started
getting quite sick with my pregnancy
757
00:37:29,240 --> 00:37:34,270
around August, like, you know, the one
year on, so it's very like, you know, I
758
00:37:34,300 --> 00:37:38,189
truly believe in that, if it takes my,
like what my culture, at first you're
759
00:37:38,189 --> 00:37:42,260
biased, you're like, yeah, nah, you know,
and after you really leave it, you're
760
00:37:42,289 --> 00:37:44,380
like, wow, that actually happened to me.
761
00:37:54,809 --> 00:37:55,679
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
762
00:38:03,665 --> 00:38:04,785
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
763
00:38:05,315 --> 00:38:06,675
Yeah, I know.
764
00:38:06,845 --> 00:38:07,165
I know.
765
00:38:07,495 --> 00:38:11,175
So like, so the grieving
process, like I said, it starts,
766
00:38:11,175 --> 00:38:13,225
you're like, Oh God, he's gone.
767
00:38:13,575 --> 00:38:17,285
Especially like around festivals,
you feel like a lot more and
768
00:38:17,295 --> 00:38:18,444
birthdays and things like that.
769
00:38:18,445 --> 00:38:22,045
We were always big in the family
celebrating birthdays and you know,
770
00:38:22,045 --> 00:38:25,865
he'd be the first one to go buy
someone new clothes and you know, he'll
771
00:38:25,865 --> 00:38:27,195
get the cake and things like that.
772
00:38:27,195 --> 00:38:31,735
But we look, we celebrate Diwali.
773
00:38:32,355 --> 00:38:33,295
Yeah, the festival life.
774
00:38:33,325 --> 00:38:36,585
So I told you he passed away in
August and Diwali was the next big
775
00:38:36,585 --> 00:38:37,695
thing we're going to celebrate.
776
00:38:37,775 --> 00:38:39,935
And for the one year
you're a morning, right?
777
00:38:39,975 --> 00:38:44,495
So you don't do festivals like Diwali and
like the tunnel new year and all that.
778
00:38:44,515 --> 00:38:46,225
We didn't, you know, you
don't celebrate any of that.
779
00:38:46,795 --> 00:38:47,125
So.
780
00:38:47,735 --> 00:38:52,155
It's like you grieve every time
there's an occasion, you know, cause
781
00:38:52,155 --> 00:38:53,285
you know the person's not there.
782
00:38:53,725 --> 00:38:56,275
Look, we all, you know, you're busy in
your everyday life, you know, you tend
783
00:38:56,275 --> 00:38:58,884
to like, okay, we'll do this, you go
to work, you know, you come home, cook
784
00:38:58,894 --> 00:39:02,884
dinner, you know, you redo it the next
day again, and then a festival will
785
00:39:02,884 --> 00:39:07,064
happen and you're like, you would have
called this person that day to say, hey,
786
00:39:07,075 --> 00:39:11,045
happy Diwali, you know, and his birthday,
he was going to turn 70 in October.
787
00:39:11,595 --> 00:39:15,315
And so like a milestone birthday
as well, you're like, Oh, he
788
00:39:15,315 --> 00:39:16,705
would have been 75 this year.
789
00:39:17,575 --> 00:39:20,365
You know, like things are that you
remember, that's your grieving.
790
00:39:20,365 --> 00:39:25,405
So grieving never really goes
because every time there's a,
791
00:39:25,414 --> 00:39:29,124
you know, an occasion or like,
Oh God, I did this amazing thing.
792
00:39:29,125 --> 00:39:31,605
I got this promotion, you know,
like you would have called this
793
00:39:31,615 --> 00:39:32,655
person, but they're not there.
794
00:39:33,335 --> 00:39:35,815
But like when you mentioned like,
you know, the physical and spiritual
795
00:39:35,835 --> 00:39:38,455
thing, you kind of like physically.
796
00:39:38,945 --> 00:39:40,715
Like I said, you're not
calling this person anymore.
797
00:39:40,725 --> 00:39:42,905
So like, it's a grief process.
798
00:39:43,395 --> 00:39:46,164
But I guess spiritually, like, you
know, they've rebirthed somewhere.
799
00:39:46,165 --> 00:39:50,535
You can just hope in like, I hope you're
like, somewhere better than what your life
800
00:39:50,535 --> 00:39:54,254
was, you know, like you're born healthy,
you know, and all things like that.
801
00:39:54,255 --> 00:39:58,275
So, spiritual part, I think it's a
little bit easier than the physical part.
802
00:39:58,275 --> 00:40:01,505
The spiritual, you're like, okay,
even if you attained Moksha, like we
803
00:40:01,505 --> 00:40:05,515
said, you're Lord Shiva now, you know,
your earth sufferings and pain, it's
804
00:40:05,515 --> 00:40:07,145
all gone and you're happy, you know.
805
00:40:07,675 --> 00:40:09,885
And we believe you're there with
your mom now, like, you know,
806
00:40:09,895 --> 00:40:13,775
he's, you know, dad, you know, your
sisters has passed away, you know.
807
00:40:21,170 --> 00:40:21,740
Exactly.
808
00:40:21,770 --> 00:40:24,540
Like, you know, and you're with
God, like, you know, Lord Shiva.
809
00:40:24,580 --> 00:40:27,030
So like, either way, you know,
suffering, that suffering that
810
00:40:27,030 --> 00:40:29,090
you had here, it's finished now.
811
00:40:29,180 --> 00:40:30,570
You're not in pain.
812
00:40:30,570 --> 00:40:32,629
You're not having to take
medications every day.
813
00:40:32,940 --> 00:40:33,604
You know, you're happy.
814
00:40:33,604 --> 00:40:35,070
You're not in pain, basically.
815
00:40:35,100 --> 00:40:35,500
So
816
00:40:35,860 --> 00:40:38,869
CATHERINE: how do you think that, and I
suppose it probably might be a difficult
817
00:40:38,870 --> 00:40:43,410
question to ask because it's all that
you've ever known, but how do you feel
818
00:40:43,700 --> 00:40:50,155
your belief and the fact that there
is these the ability to obtain Moksha.
819
00:40:50,515 --> 00:40:53,795
How does that sort of
impact on your grief?
820
00:40:53,865 --> 00:40:58,305
Is it, I suppose, lessened by the
fact that you knowing each time?
821
00:40:58,364 --> 00:40:58,684
NYANA: Yeah.
822
00:40:59,305 --> 00:40:59,465
Does
823
00:40:59,465 --> 00:41:00,704
CATHERINE: it make sense
what I'm sort of saying?
824
00:41:00,705 --> 00:41:00,997
It makes
825
00:41:00,997 --> 00:41:01,288
NYANA: sense, yeah.
826
00:41:01,288 --> 00:41:05,074
That's what I'm saying, like, it's, it
kind of like, it lessens the grief a
827
00:41:05,075 --> 00:41:09,695
little bit because you're like, You've
attained that emotional life, or you're
828
00:41:09,695 --> 00:41:12,865
liberated, like, you know, you don't have
to rebirth, you don't have to go through
829
00:41:13,355 --> 00:41:17,705
life again, life's pain, like, you know,
because life has all its ups and downs.
830
00:41:17,775 --> 00:41:21,975
In a way, you're like, even though you
don't know where, like, if he's reborn,
831
00:41:21,994 --> 00:41:25,574
like, you can only wish, like, you know,
his life will just be, there's only ups.
832
00:41:25,805 --> 00:41:28,185
But like I said, if he's attained
Moksha, it's kind of like, he doesn't
833
00:41:28,215 --> 00:41:29,165
have to go through that again.
834
00:41:29,365 --> 00:41:31,885
So it kind of like lessened
the grief a little bit.
835
00:41:32,055 --> 00:41:35,025
And that's why we like to think like,
you know, that's what we do all this
836
00:41:35,045 --> 00:41:39,184
prayer is to make, hopefully he's
attained that and hopefully like, you
837
00:41:39,184 --> 00:41:43,165
know, or if he's reversed somewhere,
hopefully there's been a smooth journey
838
00:41:43,165 --> 00:41:47,174
and the journey will be a lot better
than what he's had in the previous life.
839
00:41:47,175 --> 00:41:50,995
You can only wish like every life
someone's had is better than the past one.
840
00:41:51,695 --> 00:41:52,305
CATHERINE: Yeah.
841
00:41:52,375 --> 00:41:52,765
Yeah.
842
00:41:52,825 --> 00:41:56,955
And have you heard stories or have
you experienced personally whereby
843
00:41:57,375 --> 00:42:02,904
people have come across perhaps
someone they believe may be the soul
844
00:42:03,005 --> 00:42:04,865
of someone they've previously met?
845
00:42:05,455 --> 00:42:08,905
NYANA: Yeah, in a way, like, you
get that, you know, feeling that
846
00:42:09,985 --> 00:42:11,825
they've sent someone to you, you know?
847
00:42:11,995 --> 00:42:12,355
Yeah.
848
00:42:12,785 --> 00:42:16,925
Yeah, like, you know, my youngest was
sent to me specially, handpicked, you
849
00:42:16,925 --> 00:42:19,245
know, cause my dad never got to meet him.
850
00:42:19,375 --> 00:42:22,085
My dad passed away in August and
my youngest was born in March.
851
00:42:22,595 --> 00:42:27,234
So I'm like, Oh yeah, you got to meet
him first before, you know, you guys
852
00:42:27,235 --> 00:42:29,934
got to meet each other first before,
like, you know, I got to meet him.
853
00:42:30,084 --> 00:42:32,275
Just like think of little
things like that in your life.
854
00:42:33,070 --> 00:42:35,800
You know, your special little
boy, cause like, your granddad
855
00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:37,570
handpicked you to send us here.
856
00:42:37,990 --> 00:42:40,860
And it is a connection
really, like, you have.
857
00:42:41,310 --> 00:42:43,649
Not that I have different connections
with my kids, like, it's just like a,
858
00:42:44,130 --> 00:42:48,200
just knowing that, you know, he didn't
get to meet a grandfather, a grandparent.
859
00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,980
But, I like to think like, my
dad got to see him first and
860
00:42:51,980 --> 00:42:53,380
know him first, like, you know.
861
00:42:54,100 --> 00:42:55,110
He's being sent to me.
862
00:42:55,300 --> 00:42:58,280
CATHERINE: And you mentioned that
it was based on the lunar cycles
863
00:42:58,280 --> 00:42:59,780
that you do certain things as well.
864
00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:02,630
Can you talk me through a little
bit about how the lunar cycle
865
00:43:02,670 --> 00:43:04,809
connects in with your belief system?
866
00:43:05,069 --> 00:43:05,149
NYANA: Yeah.
867
00:43:05,399 --> 00:43:08,739
So we believe a lot in like horoscopes
and things like that, like, you know,
868
00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:10,379
lunar positions and things like that.
869
00:43:10,379 --> 00:43:15,060
Like even when a child is born
based on like the time and the
870
00:43:15,060 --> 00:43:16,590
day and the position, you know.
871
00:43:17,500 --> 00:43:21,290
Moon, and things like that, like what
their name, their name will start with.
872
00:43:22,010 --> 00:43:26,460
So for me personally, I'd like, you
know, my family, we all followed that.
873
00:43:26,930 --> 00:43:30,180
I follow that with my kids as well, you
know, like what their horoscope based
874
00:43:30,180 --> 00:43:32,880
on the time and the day they were born,
what their name should start with.
875
00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:33,190
And
876
00:43:33,190 --> 00:43:35,000
CATHERINE: is that the
letter it should start with?
877
00:43:35,399 --> 00:43:35,429
Yes.
878
00:43:35,909 --> 00:43:36,890
NYANA: Either the letter or the sound.
879
00:43:37,730 --> 00:43:41,690
So both my kids have that with their
middle names because I'm like, that's
880
00:43:41,690 --> 00:43:43,340
their connection with my culture.
881
00:43:43,915 --> 00:43:45,125
You know, you're going to have this name.
882
00:43:45,125 --> 00:43:47,505
This is the name that, you know, my
mommy's culture, like, you know, we
883
00:43:47,505 --> 00:43:49,025
believe in this and this is your middle
884
00:43:49,025 --> 00:43:49,365
CATHERINE: name.
885
00:43:49,605 --> 00:43:51,295
And can you talk me
through the naming process?
886
00:43:51,625 --> 00:43:53,515
Like how that is derived?
887
00:43:53,784 --> 00:43:57,095
Like, is there a guide that
you follow or how does it work?
888
00:43:57,095 --> 00:43:59,845
NYANA: So that's where, like, you
will talk to a priest, a Swami,
889
00:43:59,864 --> 00:44:02,905
and they will do based on like,
they've got like a horoscope.
890
00:44:04,485 --> 00:44:08,275
And all the names are coming to me
right now, like what is called, but
891
00:44:08,275 --> 00:44:11,125
they've got like a book that they
just like match it like almost like
892
00:44:11,125 --> 00:44:15,695
a little math calculation and what,
what letter matches at that time.
893
00:44:16,605 --> 00:44:19,984
So it's very important to have like
an exact day, exact time of like when
894
00:44:19,985 --> 00:44:24,225
the kid's born, but ending in the
same will go for prayers as well.
895
00:44:24,725 --> 00:44:26,368
Like it's like auspicious times, you
896
00:44:26,368 --> 00:44:27,539
CATHERINE: know, there's such a
897
00:44:27,539 --> 00:44:29,595
NYANA: thing that it's,
it's not a good time.
898
00:44:29,595 --> 00:44:30,755
And it's like an auspicious time.
899
00:44:30,795 --> 00:44:32,815
So like when there was this monthly.
900
00:44:33,115 --> 00:44:36,125
Prayers that had to be done, the
priest would tell my mom, okay,
901
00:44:36,125 --> 00:44:39,765
you got to go either like in the
27th, you go on that day to do that
902
00:44:39,765 --> 00:44:42,905
prayer, you go before midday, you
know, so they were used to that.
903
00:44:42,905 --> 00:44:45,555
So every month there was a
certain day that they had to go.
904
00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:47,660
Offerings.
905
00:44:47,660 --> 00:44:52,230
So I said, we deliver even weddings,
like, you know, when you get wedding
906
00:44:52,340 --> 00:44:57,250
based on two people's horoscopes as well,
which is what Ben and I had in Mauritius
907
00:44:57,290 --> 00:45:03,010
when we were there, like we had, and
that was a very lovely 4am, 5am wedding
908
00:45:03,020 --> 00:45:04,580
because that was the time we had to be.
909
00:45:05,910 --> 00:45:07,560
So yeah, that's right.
910
00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:12,300
You had the very organized chaos,
he still remembers and look, things
911
00:45:12,300 --> 00:45:13,560
like, you know, Pharaoh's wedding.
912
00:45:13,990 --> 00:45:16,430
It's always an organized
chaos with everything, so.
913
00:45:16,900 --> 00:45:21,859
CATHERINE: If you can take me back to the
offerings that you were mentioned with the
914
00:45:21,859 --> 00:45:25,040
little rice balls with your father's body.
915
00:45:25,490 --> 00:45:30,469
After the funeral, how is the funeral
concluded at the home for your father?
916
00:45:30,990 --> 00:45:33,610
NYANA: On the day of the funeral,
it's all about blessing the body,
917
00:45:34,140 --> 00:45:38,670
blessing the soul to do prayers and
to basically, like I said, my mom
918
00:45:38,670 --> 00:45:40,220
had to take what we call a tally.
919
00:45:40,975 --> 00:45:45,225
The married women in my culture in
Tamil, they wear those prayers about
920
00:45:45,245 --> 00:45:46,915
that because now she's a widow.
921
00:45:46,915 --> 00:45:49,435
So you have to like pretty much
and the marriage is finished now.
922
00:45:50,095 --> 00:45:53,775
So I think that the physical
marriage of them both is finished.
923
00:45:53,775 --> 00:45:57,315
So like you had to take that off for
her and like, you know, everything she
924
00:45:57,315 --> 00:45:59,075
wears a married woman, even colors.
925
00:45:59,095 --> 00:46:02,195
Now she's like, you know, they say you
don't have to wear like bright colors,
926
00:46:02,395 --> 00:46:03,895
you know, like reds and things like that.
927
00:46:03,915 --> 00:46:04,655
You don't wear it.
928
00:46:04,655 --> 00:46:05,705
So the process then.
929
00:46:06,355 --> 00:46:10,155
Like the rice ball comes afterwards,
like the prayers leading on,
930
00:46:10,165 --> 00:46:11,645
the days leading on after.
931
00:46:12,295 --> 00:46:16,005
So this prayer is about the body leaving
the house, saying goodbye to that house
932
00:46:16,005 --> 00:46:18,765
now, like, you know, he was born in
there, like, you know, you're leaving
933
00:46:19,295 --> 00:46:24,165
that house, and then they go, and in my
culture, like, you know, we do cremation.
934
00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:26,740
You can do both burials and cremation.
935
00:46:26,760 --> 00:46:29,030
My dad always said that
he wanted to be cremated.
936
00:46:29,560 --> 00:46:31,840
So then the cremation process happened.
937
00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:36,130
And that one only, it's one thing
I like, one thing I don't quite
938
00:46:36,170 --> 00:46:38,180
like with this, only boys do it.
939
00:46:38,350 --> 00:46:42,010
So it's either like the eldest
son or the eldest male relative.
940
00:46:42,230 --> 00:46:44,300
So in my family, we're three girls.
941
00:46:44,900 --> 00:46:48,119
So my brother in law did it all
as like, you know, the, like.
942
00:46:48,430 --> 00:46:53,525
Taking the role of a son, so they have
to shave their head as well, like, you
943
00:46:53,525 --> 00:46:58,400
know, you have to shave his head, you
cut your hair for the male, for the boys.
944
00:46:58,450 --> 00:47:02,440
So they, then they go to the
cemetery and do more prayers there.
945
00:47:03,380 --> 00:47:06,659
And the son, he's the one, like
in the eldest male relative of
946
00:47:06,660 --> 00:47:10,510
the son, he's the one who has
to light the pyre, as they say.
947
00:47:11,030 --> 00:47:13,254
And that's where, then he concludes it.
948
00:47:13,695 --> 00:47:18,825
And as he do it as well, like he, like I
said, I wasn't there when that happens.
949
00:47:18,855 --> 00:47:23,335
My nephew was saying like, when you do
it, the moment you liked it, you walk
950
00:47:23,335 --> 00:47:27,625
out, you don't look back and all the
male relatives of the ones who go there.
951
00:47:28,075 --> 00:47:29,555
And they're the only ones who do it.
952
00:47:29,565 --> 00:47:30,385
It's a cultural thing.
953
00:47:30,385 --> 00:47:32,455
Like, you know, women didn't
do it back in the day.
954
00:47:32,455 --> 00:47:37,634
So it's like, how do I say, I think in a
way, it's like passing the responsibility
955
00:47:37,634 --> 00:47:39,944
to the next male in the family.
956
00:47:39,944 --> 00:47:43,904
Like, you know, I think in
a way the cultural part of
957
00:47:43,904 --> 00:47:45,285
it, like I'm sure it's okay.
958
00:47:45,425 --> 00:47:48,805
Like us girls weren't there, like
there wouldn't be anything would
959
00:47:48,805 --> 00:47:51,695
happen, but it's just more like
what culture they used to do.
960
00:47:51,705 --> 00:47:52,245
Like, you know.
961
00:47:52,670 --> 00:47:55,780
Things move from male relative
to male relative to male
962
00:47:55,780 --> 00:47:57,340
relative, you know, that, that.
963
00:47:57,480 --> 00:47:57,830
CATHERINE: And is it
964
00:47:57,870 --> 00:47:59,830
the same, Nyana, like when
965
00:47:59,860 --> 00:48:02,990
CATHERINE: your mum dies, you
can't do that either, can you?
966
00:48:03,090 --> 00:48:03,640
No, no, no.
967
00:48:03,810 --> 00:48:07,429
So it really is just a male
thing, regardless of whether
968
00:48:07,519 --> 00:48:08,750
it's the female or male?
969
00:48:08,789 --> 00:48:09,019
Yeah.
970
00:48:09,020 --> 00:48:10,759
Matriarch or patriarch dies, okay.
971
00:48:11,150 --> 00:48:11,240
Yeah.
972
00:48:12,020 --> 00:48:19,679
And tell me the role with horoscopes
and then there's also that spiritual
973
00:48:19,679 --> 00:48:21,780
aspect as well too, isn't it?
974
00:48:21,810 --> 00:48:28,429
So have you experienced or talked to
any mediums or anything along that line?
975
00:48:28,850 --> 00:48:30,190
How does that play in?
976
00:48:30,529 --> 00:48:33,509
That seems to kind of sit
sort of naturally with that.
977
00:48:33,509 --> 00:48:36,440
So could you talk me through your
experience of that, if you don't mind?
978
00:48:36,800 --> 00:48:38,770
NYANA: Not at all, so like I
was telling you about my little
979
00:48:38,900 --> 00:48:40,230
encounter with the medium.
980
00:48:40,230 --> 00:48:44,380
Cause look for me, it was very important
to me, like in a way, like I didn't
981
00:48:44,380 --> 00:48:47,250
have closure, like, you know, when
my dad died, I didn't cry either.
982
00:48:47,250 --> 00:48:49,550
Like for me, it was surreal.
983
00:48:49,560 --> 00:48:53,080
Like, I think I cried when I felt
like I learned the news of it.
984
00:48:53,315 --> 00:48:56,195
But then I think I didn't try
for like a couple of days.
985
00:48:56,195 --> 00:48:59,095
I didn't like, it was
just like a numb feeling.
986
00:48:59,195 --> 00:49:02,545
And how do I say like,
also a bit of happiness.
987
00:49:03,465 --> 00:49:07,415
Happiness in the sense that like,
I saw how much she was suffering
988
00:49:07,444 --> 00:49:10,364
from like just video calls and
photos that I was sending her.
989
00:49:10,894 --> 00:49:13,034
I saw how much she wasn't.
990
00:49:13,890 --> 00:49:14,550
Him anymore.
991
00:49:15,060 --> 00:49:17,750
So for me, what's happening
is like, he's not suffering.
992
00:49:17,750 --> 00:49:19,550
Now that's over, you know, that's done.
993
00:49:19,550 --> 00:49:23,090
He's like, you know, there's not six,
you know, needles everywhere with him,
994
00:49:23,090 --> 00:49:30,020
or tubes like, you know, so I, when I
was about five or six weeks pregnant,
995
00:49:30,020 --> 00:49:35,600
I was like, I wanna just to see It was
more cure one, curiosity two, a bit of.
996
00:49:35,970 --> 00:49:42,710
Closure, like, to see what she had to
say, and I wanted to get it done before
997
00:49:42,710 --> 00:49:45,170
that one year was over, you know?
998
00:49:45,479 --> 00:49:48,309
CATHERINE: So this was, this was
your second pregnancy, so your
999
00:49:48,309 --> 00:49:52,909
father had already died, so it was
before his, his one year anniversary.
1000
00:49:52,909 --> 00:49:53,640
The one year
1001
00:49:53,640 --> 00:49:57,160
NYANA: that, yes, yeah, and it's
funny, like, first thing she said to
1002
00:49:57,160 --> 00:50:04,075
me, her name is Robyn, and she is,
ah, look, I'm someone who I feel,
1003
00:50:04,855 --> 00:50:08,645
first impression, I get connected with
someone very, like, straight away.
1004
00:50:08,645 --> 00:50:16,835
And I, like, just to talk back a little
bit about how I met Robin from Divine
1005
00:50:16,835 --> 00:50:20,674
Connections, who is an amazing lady,
like, I talk to her, like, to this
1006
00:50:20,675 --> 00:50:25,235
day, we message each other, like, she
just popped up on my Instagram, and I
1007
00:50:25,235 --> 00:50:27,290
was like You know how algorithm works.
1008
00:50:27,290 --> 00:50:28,720
I'm like, why?
1009
00:50:29,410 --> 00:50:33,890
And I always think back and I'm like,
well, it was my dad sending her to me.
1010
00:50:33,890 --> 00:50:37,439
And like, I just saw her face and
he's, you know, someone you just
1011
00:50:37,439 --> 00:50:39,360
see someone's face and straight
away you feel comfortable.
1012
00:50:40,035 --> 00:50:43,275
You feel like you can talk to them
about everything and anything really.
1013
00:50:43,845 --> 00:50:47,845
So I had that with her and I always
joke with her, I'm like, we must have
1014
00:50:47,845 --> 00:50:49,405
been related now we're past life.
1015
00:50:49,415 --> 00:50:52,615
I always joke with her like, you
know, the way how I feel, like
1016
00:50:52,644 --> 00:50:55,935
things she said and straight away
with her, she's like, I see a baby.
1017
00:50:56,815 --> 00:51:01,095
And I did someone just had a baby
or anything and I'm like, well,
1018
00:51:01,175 --> 00:51:04,085
I'm five weeks pregnant or six
weeks pregnant I was at the time.
1019
00:51:04,495 --> 00:51:06,455
It's like, I can see a
little boy running around.
1020
00:51:07,144 --> 00:51:11,065
And other time when she said that to
me, I thought she meant my nephew who
1021
00:51:11,354 --> 00:51:12,874
as well didn't get to meet my dad.
1022
00:51:12,875 --> 00:51:14,614
My sister's in Perth, her son.
1023
00:51:14,834 --> 00:51:15,775
I thought of him straight.
1024
00:51:15,785 --> 00:51:16,665
I'm like, Oh, it must be him.
1025
00:51:16,665 --> 00:51:18,805
She's talking about, but what did I know?
1026
00:51:18,935 --> 00:51:20,785
Like she was saying I
was going to have a boy.
1027
00:51:21,345 --> 00:51:22,115
Running around.
1028
00:51:22,115 --> 00:51:22,215
Running around.
1029
00:51:22,215 --> 00:51:24,075
And if you know my son
now, he's, you know,
1030
00:51:26,200 --> 00:51:28,395
,
CATHERINE: it's very
appropriately, uh, describing him.
1031
00:51:28,395 --> 00:51:28,485
Yes.
1032
00:51:28,485 --> 00:51:29,250
He's very little
1033
00:51:29,270 --> 00:51:29,490
NYANA: boy.
1034
00:51:29,550 --> 00:51:33,765
Little, you know, like, she's
like, I see a girl, daughter.
1035
00:51:33,765 --> 00:51:34,515
It must be your daughter.
1036
00:51:34,515 --> 00:51:35,685
I see little butterflies.
1037
00:51:35,685 --> 00:51:37,845
He's putting like
butterflies all around her.
1038
00:51:38,445 --> 00:51:41,985
And if you know my daughter now,
like even back then, she's, you know.
1039
00:51:42,485 --> 00:51:46,945
She's a very determined little girl, but
can be like, you know, loves animals.
1040
00:51:46,945 --> 00:51:50,775
And like, we went on a walk this
morning and she was like tip
1041
00:51:50,845 --> 00:51:53,074
top, like, and it rained really
heavily in Canberra last night.
1042
00:51:53,074 --> 00:51:54,885
So there's snails and worms everywhere.
1043
00:51:55,624 --> 00:51:57,775
And they woke up so early.
1044
00:51:57,775 --> 00:52:00,665
I took them for a walk at
like six o'clock, six 30.
1045
00:52:00,675 --> 00:52:03,395
And she was tip toe like on like the park.
1046
00:52:03,405 --> 00:52:05,055
Cause she's like, I don't
want to step on anything.
1047
00:52:05,585 --> 00:52:07,914
I want to step on snails or worms.
1048
00:52:07,995 --> 00:52:11,674
And she will hold a worm in her hand
while I'm like squirming, you know, like.
1049
00:52:12,305 --> 00:52:15,785
But she, he did that, like, you know,
straight away, he's, you know, the
1050
00:52:15,805 --> 00:52:20,335
image he was projecting to her was
like, she's that kind of person, that
1051
00:52:20,335 --> 00:52:23,305
little girl, like, you know, she can
be up in the air sometimes, but like,
1052
00:52:23,305 --> 00:52:24,895
it was very much her personality.
1053
00:52:25,515 --> 00:52:30,034
So, things she was saying to me,
honestly, like, she doesn't know me,
1054
00:52:30,035 --> 00:52:33,215
this person, you know, Robin doesn't
know me, but things she was saying was
1055
00:52:33,215 --> 00:52:36,595
like, I told her all that beforehand,
and then she was just really Seeing it.
1056
00:52:36,595 --> 00:52:40,035
So for her, I have to send a
photo of him ahead of time.
1057
00:52:40,645 --> 00:52:45,895
She can only do mediumship reading if
someone's passed away more than six weeks.
1058
00:52:46,015 --> 00:52:49,574
And she said, because you
want the soul to settle.
1059
00:52:50,274 --> 00:52:53,765
Cause you know, like just to give
the soul the time, because sometimes
1060
00:52:53,765 --> 00:52:59,325
when someone passes away, then I
settled, you know, and from, she
1061
00:52:59,325 --> 00:53:02,305
was like from photos and projection.
1062
00:53:02,305 --> 00:53:04,945
And she said for her is
projection of images.
1063
00:53:05,355 --> 00:53:10,935
That he was projecting to her and
like I said, it was quite the closure.
1064
00:53:11,065 --> 00:53:14,595
Like, you know, I think she's like,
Oh, I can hear music and I can see
1065
00:53:15,045 --> 00:53:18,684
him with his arms around like a,
you know, two other little lady.
1066
00:53:18,684 --> 00:53:21,485
And I'm like, I'm like, it's
probably my grandma, his mom.
1067
00:53:21,495 --> 00:53:23,524
Like, you know, cause
my grandma, my mom's.
1068
00:53:24,085 --> 00:53:26,355
Mom was very much like
a mom to him as well.
1069
00:53:26,995 --> 00:53:28,445
They had a good relationship.
1070
00:53:29,215 --> 00:53:33,375
And also the one that got to me,
my dad had a brother who passed
1071
00:53:33,375 --> 00:53:36,965
away when he was like eight,
nine, you know, back in the day.
1072
00:53:36,975 --> 00:53:40,834
And he's like, I can see a kid around
him, like hugging him from the back.
1073
00:53:40,855 --> 00:53:45,395
And I was like, Oh my goodness,
it's probably him, you know?
1074
00:53:45,925 --> 00:53:47,755
And she's like, yeah,
there's a little kid.
1075
00:53:47,755 --> 00:53:48,855
That's very shy.
1076
00:53:49,365 --> 00:53:51,915
And your dad's like, you know,
roughing his hair, like, and it's okay.
1077
00:53:51,915 --> 00:53:54,964
Like, you know, it was
like images like this.
1078
00:53:54,965 --> 00:53:58,355
And that's where, like you said,
you know, like the grieving process.
1079
00:53:59,140 --> 00:54:01,730
It was a lot easier after saying
that because he's obviously happy
1080
00:54:01,810 --> 00:54:03,510
because, you know, if he's hearing
it's like, she's like thinking
1081
00:54:03,520 --> 00:54:05,730
music, but happy music I can hear.
1082
00:54:06,230 --> 00:54:07,250
And I'm like, yes.
1083
00:54:07,259 --> 00:54:10,590
So like, it's probably what she's
projecting to say he's happy.
1084
00:54:10,730 --> 00:54:15,170
So that was quite an interesting, like, it
was meant to be an hour and I think Robin
1085
00:54:15,180 --> 00:54:17,699
and I probably spoke for like an hour
and a half, two hours, because she was
1086
00:54:17,710 --> 00:54:21,080
quite unwell and Robin had breast cancer.
1087
00:54:22,060 --> 00:54:25,890
And she didn't do any reading for
quite a while, and when she was better
1088
00:54:25,890 --> 00:54:29,620
and she was okay, I was one of her
first, I was her first reading back.
1089
00:54:30,510 --> 00:54:35,310
So, look, it's personal, like, some people
don't believe in mediums and some people
1090
00:54:35,310 --> 00:54:40,659
do, and, like, like I said, the experience
that I've had with her, things she said to
1091
00:54:40,659 --> 00:54:42,845
me, There's definitely a connection there.
1092
00:54:42,845 --> 00:54:45,195
There's definitely something there,
like, out there, you know, in the
1093
00:54:45,195 --> 00:54:49,565
body, like, the soul, like, you know,
trying to communicate with someone.
1094
00:54:49,824 --> 00:54:52,534
And, like I said, it was, it
was an amazing experience.
1095
00:54:53,095 --> 00:54:56,804
And it gave me a little bit of
closure, as well, having that.
1096
00:54:57,114 --> 00:54:59,815
Grieving, it helps, it definitely
helps with the grieving.
1097
00:55:00,740 --> 00:55:03,900
Because for me, it was grieving,
like I was able to take my oldest
1098
00:55:03,930 --> 00:55:06,490
back to Mauritius when she was like,
you know, four months old, six,
1099
00:55:06,610 --> 00:55:09,840
five months old, like, you know, my
family got to meet her and he got to
1100
00:55:09,850 --> 00:55:10,960
meet her and hold her and all that.
1101
00:55:10,960 --> 00:55:12,619
But my youngest didn't get that.
1102
00:55:13,280 --> 00:55:14,949
So that's another level of grief as well.
1103
00:55:14,950 --> 00:55:20,140
Like what could have been, you know, what
would have been, which you don't have now.
1104
00:55:20,140 --> 00:55:21,980
So having that little
closure, you're like.
1105
00:55:23,015 --> 00:55:23,255
A bit.
1106
00:55:23,255 --> 00:55:26,285
Hell definitely helps with like
a grieving process a little bit.
1107
00:55:31,325 --> 00:55:31,535
Yeah.
1108
00:55:36,975 --> 00:55:41,255
We recently, that finished three
days ago, like a festival of
1109
00:55:41,255 --> 00:55:42,845
the dead we have in my culture.
1110
00:55:43,315 --> 00:55:47,585
We believe there's a certain
time when, look, souls are like
1111
00:55:47,585 --> 00:55:50,274
closer to you on like, you know,
the physical sort of earth.
1112
00:55:50,895 --> 00:55:53,695
And during that time we pour water.
1113
00:55:54,070 --> 00:55:59,470
We do more prayers and all that and
so I think the kids saw me do that
1114
00:55:59,480 --> 00:56:02,690
so like you believe like you're
pouring water for the past family.
1115
00:56:03,160 --> 00:56:06,000
Look, I still do prayers if there's
something like especially around like
1116
00:56:06,640 --> 00:56:11,565
Diwali is the next thing that's happening
next at the end of the month, start of End
1117
00:56:11,565 --> 00:56:13,325
of October, start of November is Diwali.
1118
00:56:13,835 --> 00:56:16,065
So there will always be a
prayer for them as well.
1119
00:56:16,415 --> 00:56:19,125
A special prayer where
you honor the past family.
1120
00:56:19,125 --> 00:56:21,265
So there'll be like food laid
out for them and all that.
1121
00:56:21,835 --> 00:56:23,254
And Diwali, it's about sweets.
1122
00:56:23,274 --> 00:56:24,425
You make cakes, you know.
1123
00:56:25,024 --> 00:56:26,664
So there's always, you'll be
prayers with this as well.
1124
00:56:26,665 --> 00:56:27,705
So the kids have seen me.
1125
00:56:27,705 --> 00:56:30,659
That's one thing I do
here since having kids.
1126
00:56:30,810 --> 00:56:34,830
Every year, like Diwali, even when
you're in mourning process, you can do
1127
00:56:34,830 --> 00:56:36,440
in a way, you just do it among yourself.
1128
00:56:36,440 --> 00:56:39,300
You go, you don't go because Diwali
is about distributing cakes to your
1129
00:56:39,420 --> 00:56:41,609
neighbours and families and all that.
1130
00:56:41,620 --> 00:56:44,120
So you don't do that when you're in
mourning process, but you can do just
1131
00:56:44,120 --> 00:56:46,029
some on yourself as a family in the house.
1132
00:56:46,560 --> 00:56:49,079
But here in Australia, look, there's
not a lot of that cultural thing.
1133
00:56:49,110 --> 00:56:51,710
I'm sure if I went to my neighbour, I'm
like, it's Diwali, here's some cake.
1134
00:56:51,710 --> 00:56:52,230
He'll take it.
1135
00:56:52,230 --> 00:56:53,910
But like, you know, like.
1136
00:56:54,955 --> 00:56:57,815
My group of friends here of
similar sort of culture, we do it.
1137
00:56:57,815 --> 00:57:00,185
So we'll do Diwali,
probably the week after.
1138
00:57:00,185 --> 00:57:02,995
So everyone will bring a plan and cake
and that's how we'll do the sharing.
1139
00:57:03,825 --> 00:57:10,354
So, like I said, occasions and festivals
like that, you always remember the past.
1140
00:57:11,025 --> 00:57:13,634
Families, it's like, you always
have a chair there for them.
1141
00:57:13,634 --> 00:57:15,725
You always have like a plate
of food there for them.
1142
00:57:15,725 --> 00:57:17,735
You do like a, there's always an offering.
1143
00:57:24,815 --> 00:57:26,395
No, it's longer than that.
1144
00:57:26,685 --> 00:57:28,485
Oh gosh, I think it was
for about two weeks.
1145
00:57:29,355 --> 00:57:30,515
But there's certain days.
1146
00:57:30,745 --> 00:57:34,185
You can pour the water and I always rely
on my sister, the one who is Mauritius to
1147
00:57:34,185 --> 00:57:38,645
tell me, okay, make sure you pour water
today for dad and you know, and you pour
1148
00:57:38,645 --> 00:57:40,905
some water and there'll be a milk as well.
1149
00:57:41,425 --> 00:57:45,245
And like I say, if it was in Mauritius,
we'll do more prayers and all that.
1150
00:57:45,245 --> 00:57:50,155
But here, like, you know, I just
pour some water, like, you know, for
1151
00:57:50,155 --> 00:57:51,705
me, I just use like a pot of plant.
1152
00:57:52,360 --> 00:57:56,060
I'm like, I think of him and I'm like,
the water is going to that for the flower.
1153
00:57:56,720 --> 00:57:59,710
I just pour some water in
there in the morning for him,
1154
00:57:59,930 --> 00:58:01,250
just a little glass of water.
1155
00:58:01,800 --> 00:58:03,870
So it's just like you're
pouring water for them.
1156
00:58:04,560 --> 00:58:06,860
You know, like if you like
it, that's the offering part.
1157
00:58:09,170 --> 00:58:09,940
No,
1158
00:58:13,040 --> 00:58:13,640
exactly.
1159
00:58:13,690 --> 00:58:15,290
Yeah, isn't it, Sian?
1160
00:58:20,000 --> 00:58:22,560
I think it is because I said we
didn't do it when it started.
1161
00:58:23,100 --> 00:58:28,410
We did it towards the end, especially me
here, like I did it then, and I'm pretty
1162
00:58:28,410 --> 00:58:29,610
sure it has to do something with that.
1163
00:58:29,669 --> 00:58:32,980
Even though it was a festival the
day, it's like You know, the past
1164
00:58:32,980 --> 00:58:34,290
people, like it's like a festival.
1165
00:58:34,640 --> 00:58:37,440
Each day was a different
prayer day sort of thing.
1166
00:58:37,990 --> 00:58:40,490
And the day that I poured the water
from that day on, like my stills,
1167
00:58:40,490 --> 00:58:45,189
like, okay, that day on, like, you
know, do it before it finishes on the
1168
00:58:45,189 --> 00:58:47,459
second issue, you pour some water.
1169
00:58:47,519 --> 00:58:50,140
So like I said, I wish
I knew more about it.
1170
00:58:50,230 --> 00:58:53,709
And, but it's just like, you know,
even her as well, like, you know,
1171
00:58:53,710 --> 00:58:56,500
it's what we've learned from like
grandparents and all that you do
1172
00:58:56,500 --> 00:58:58,130
it on certain days, you do that.
1173
00:59:05,520 --> 00:59:06,320
Yeah.
1174
00:59:11,580 --> 00:59:12,130
Yeah.
1175
00:59:16,560 --> 00:59:20,530
Look, I've been in Australia half my
life, if not a little bit more now.
1176
00:59:20,540 --> 00:59:23,860
So like, you get disconnected with things
that's available there that they do.
1177
00:59:24,400 --> 00:59:25,660
Like you can do it here.
1178
00:59:26,600 --> 00:59:29,379
One, time difference is different.
1179
00:59:29,380 --> 00:59:33,649
Like, you know, so if something has to be
done in the morning, it's like midnight.
1180
00:59:33,649 --> 00:59:34,500
Then I'm like, six o'clock.
1181
00:59:34,500 --> 00:59:35,500
Okay, I'll do it now.
1182
00:59:35,500 --> 00:59:36,579
And then I'm like, what do I do?
1183
00:59:36,579 --> 00:59:38,650
So like, you know, my sister
would message me the time before.
1184
00:59:39,090 --> 00:59:40,610
But the important thing is like.
1185
00:59:41,050 --> 00:59:43,600
I do it mainly for my kids
because I'm like, you guys have
1186
00:59:43,600 --> 00:59:44,740
to know where you come from.
1187
00:59:45,280 --> 00:59:47,570
You're not going to be
disconnected from that at all.
1188
00:59:47,970 --> 00:59:51,190
Even though I don't do it like,
you know, a hundred percent, even
1189
00:59:51,190 --> 00:59:55,130
if it's 50%, that's 50 percent
that I've passed to you in a way.
1190
00:59:55,150 --> 00:59:56,430
So when if you have kids.
1191
00:59:56,665 --> 00:59:59,505
As well, you'd be like, oh yeah,
grandma used to do this and do
1192
00:59:59,505 --> 01:00:00,785
that, and we have to do it as well.
1193
01:00:00,985 --> 01:00:03,795
Same like language, French, like,
you know, they have to learn this,
1194
01:00:03,825 --> 01:00:07,684
because I'm like, one, it's where,
you know, mummies learn this, you
1195
01:00:07,684 --> 01:00:11,425
know, like it's, we speak French in
Mauritius, girl, it's a plus to know.
1196
01:00:12,245 --> 01:00:14,514
But like for me, culturally,
you have to know this.
1197
01:00:14,515 --> 01:00:17,005
So like Diwali, like I said, other
friends here that I've met through
1198
01:00:17,005 --> 01:00:21,984
my mom's group with my youngest one,
again, someone from India, you know,
1199
01:00:22,035 --> 01:00:23,675
different sort of cultures as well.
1200
01:00:24,105 --> 01:00:26,154
So they try and do it here.
1201
01:00:26,154 --> 01:00:29,675
So because they don't have family as well
here, like right in the Canberra here.
1202
01:00:30,334 --> 01:00:33,415
So we do it together because they as
well want to bring that culture for their
1203
01:00:33,415 --> 01:00:37,615
children, because, you know, it's what it
was back home growing up is what we have.
1204
01:00:38,655 --> 01:00:40,915
So it's very important
in a way, like, you know.
1205
01:00:42,155 --> 01:00:45,055
You have to learn these things, where
you're from, you shouldn't cut it out,
1206
01:00:45,125 --> 01:00:47,745
you know, you pass on as much as possible.
1207
01:00:54,375 --> 01:00:54,795
Yeah.
1208
01:01:00,265 --> 01:01:01,345
Yeah, exactly.
1209
01:01:02,325 --> 01:01:03,195
Absolutely.
1210
01:01:03,205 --> 01:01:07,185
And like recently Canberra had this,
and you know, but I've told you about
1211
01:01:07,355 --> 01:01:12,495
this art exhibition for like, they
wanted immigrants to participate in.
1212
01:01:13,064 --> 01:01:15,575
And I saw this, I'm like, yeah, I
have to do something like, you know,
1213
01:01:15,735 --> 01:01:20,145
so for me, again, a cultural thing,
I'm like, the kids have to know.
1214
01:01:20,345 --> 01:01:23,054
So I did it at paint as well.
1215
01:01:24,850 --> 01:01:29,790
I, oh God, I hope so.
1216
01:01:31,150 --> 01:01:35,620
So for me, so Mauritius
do what we call a sega.
1217
01:01:36,419 --> 01:01:39,570
Any Mauritian you'd ask what's sega,
everyone would know what sega is.
1218
01:01:39,580 --> 01:01:42,499
So it's like a dance stuff, Mauritians,
you know, we all know about it's
1219
01:01:42,499 --> 01:01:44,759
like a folklore sort of thing.
1220
01:01:45,740 --> 01:01:50,720
So for me, my painting, I wanted to
bring that and what the exhibition
1221
01:01:50,720 --> 01:01:56,170
was about was like bringing your
culture with Australian culture.
1222
01:01:57,189 --> 01:01:59,440
So what can you put together?
1223
01:01:59,440 --> 01:02:03,659
What can you do that merges your
culture, the two cultures together?
1224
01:02:03,660 --> 01:02:07,929
So for me, it was doing this
lady dancing, Sega dancing.
1225
01:02:07,929 --> 01:02:11,020
And when people do Sega dancing,
it's this massive flowy, big skirt,
1226
01:02:11,630 --> 01:02:13,040
it's a lot of drums and all that.
1227
01:02:13,040 --> 01:02:13,850
So I did that.
1228
01:02:14,170 --> 01:02:16,650
And in the background was
like, I did eucalyptus.
1229
01:02:17,630 --> 01:02:20,770
Leaves, because for me, I love
Australian flora, like, you
1230
01:02:20,770 --> 01:02:21,960
know, like fauna and flora.
1231
01:02:21,970 --> 01:02:22,530
I love it.
1232
01:02:22,530 --> 01:02:23,190
I still love it.
1233
01:02:23,740 --> 01:02:25,360
For me, that was the best way to do it.
1234
01:02:25,360 --> 01:02:29,070
So, like, her skirt, I had,
like, wattle flowers on it.
1235
01:02:29,740 --> 01:02:33,360
And at the bottom of it, I
brought in my hometown as well.
1236
01:02:33,389 --> 01:02:36,130
So, my kids saw me do this.
1237
01:02:36,200 --> 01:02:37,855
Like, you know, mommy,
what are you Painting.
1238
01:02:37,885 --> 01:02:38,555
What is this?
1239
01:02:38,555 --> 01:02:39,335
Can we help?
1240
01:02:39,335 --> 01:02:41,265
And like, I mean, they paint
brushes as well to come and
1241
01:02:41,265 --> 01:02:42,225
help me with doing my painting.
1242
01:02:42,225 --> 01:02:42,845
I'm like, Nope.
1243
01:02:42,845 --> 01:02:49,235
So they wanted to help, you
know, bless their little house.
1244
01:02:49,245 --> 01:02:49,835
I want to help.
1245
01:02:49,835 --> 01:02:52,895
But they, it made me talk
about it, what that was.
1246
01:02:53,085 --> 01:02:56,304
And when we went to the opening
night, they saw different cultures,
1247
01:02:56,305 --> 01:02:59,264
like, you know, different from
different countries, different things.
1248
01:02:59,804 --> 01:03:02,745
So, like I said, culture is a big thing.
1249
01:03:02,755 --> 01:03:05,665
You got to hold on to,
especially when you move around.
1250
01:03:05,665 --> 01:03:09,004
So if one day, even they decide to
leave Australia to move somewhere else.
1251
01:03:09,745 --> 01:03:12,925
So they have like, you know, motion
culture and Australian culture, like
1252
01:03:12,925 --> 01:03:16,915
I want to like for them to have with
them and then, you know, to always
1253
01:03:16,915 --> 01:03:20,905
carry that and, you know, cause
that's part of who you are really.
1254
01:03:36,435 --> 01:03:36,745
Yeah.
1255
01:03:41,395 --> 01:03:42,145
Yes.
1256
01:03:51,715 --> 01:03:52,445
Hangbaos.
1257
01:03:53,205 --> 01:03:54,075
It's called hangbaos.
1258
01:03:54,075 --> 01:03:57,175
So like, in Chinese culture,
like, you know, you give money
1259
01:03:57,185 --> 01:03:59,175
to kids in your red envelopes.
1260
01:03:59,705 --> 01:04:04,405
So Ben and I were like, we're going to
bring, look, I think the significance
1261
01:04:04,405 --> 01:04:05,985
of it is like good luck, kids.
1262
01:04:06,330 --> 01:04:09,370
So we get a little note in a little
red envelope, which they call hongbaos.
1263
01:04:10,100 --> 01:04:13,430
So better now since having kids
were like, no, you know what?
1264
01:04:13,430 --> 01:04:14,170
We'll bring that to them.
1265
01:04:14,180 --> 01:04:17,300
That's like a little, it's just 5,
you know, you put that in a little
1266
01:04:17,300 --> 01:04:21,450
envelope and means the world to kids
like, Oh my goodness, 5, you know,
1267
01:04:21,489 --> 01:04:24,620
like, it's just more like, this is,
do you want to buy something with it?
1268
01:04:24,670 --> 01:04:26,820
You want to save this money
or, you know, buy something
1269
01:04:26,840 --> 01:04:28,290
with a second little good luck.
1270
01:04:29,170 --> 01:04:33,190
You know, to start the new year,
like, and I should say for me,
1271
01:04:33,200 --> 01:04:35,630
like I said, Mauritius is very,
very multicultural, right?
1272
01:04:35,930 --> 01:04:40,830
So there's public holidays for
Chinese new year for Diwali, you know,
1273
01:04:40,830 --> 01:04:44,560
there's public holidays for like each
culture has their public holiday.
1274
01:04:45,090 --> 01:04:49,940
Now, when like, for example, Chinese
new year, I have a neighbour who will
1275
01:04:50,000 --> 01:04:54,020
come and bring little like spring
rolls or like, you know, things that
1276
01:04:54,020 --> 01:04:57,680
they've made different, like cultural
food, they will come and drop it.
1277
01:04:58,145 --> 01:05:01,895
You know, so, and then for us as
well, like if there's a, in a prayer,
1278
01:05:01,895 --> 01:05:06,015
like in Tamil, we do what we call
seven curries with rice and all that.
1279
01:05:06,015 --> 01:05:09,615
So that's like a typical Tamil
sort of meal, like, you know,
1280
01:05:09,655 --> 01:05:11,465
every prayer, wedding and all that.
1281
01:05:11,985 --> 01:05:15,745
So we'll tell neighbours, come eat, or if
there's leftover, we'll go and drop it.
1282
01:05:15,765 --> 01:05:18,625
Like, you know, it's how everyone,
each culture knows of each
1283
01:05:18,625 --> 01:05:21,035
culture's like festival and like,
cause there's always that sharing.
1284
01:05:21,515 --> 01:05:21,885
And.
1285
01:05:22,075 --> 01:05:25,075
You know, look back in the day
was a lot more now, unfortunately,
1286
01:05:25,075 --> 01:05:27,795
with time going by, like, you know,
people losing that a little bit,
1287
01:05:28,435 --> 01:05:30,165
but that's how I knew about it.
1288
01:05:30,435 --> 01:05:31,915
And Ben knows about it.
1289
01:05:32,145 --> 01:05:35,574
And so we brought that and
it's funny, like they do the
1290
01:05:35,575 --> 01:05:36,695
dragon dance and all that.
1291
01:05:36,875 --> 01:05:40,874
So just the blessings of dragon
dance is like the blessing of
1292
01:05:40,904 --> 01:05:42,164
like a business and all that.
1293
01:05:42,550 --> 01:05:43,460
You know, they do here.
1294
01:05:43,490 --> 01:05:47,440
So just up the road from where we live
here at the shops, they come and do it.
1295
01:05:47,440 --> 01:05:52,000
So we take the kids and it's meant to
be good luck to go and pack one of them.
1296
01:05:52,450 --> 01:05:57,010
But as you know, Melbourne does, it's
so much, you know, it's, it's huge.
1297
01:05:57,469 --> 01:05:59,719
And we were, we planned
it that way as well.
1298
01:05:59,720 --> 01:06:03,570
Like we'll be in the city when we'll sit
and the kids can see what that's about.
1299
01:06:03,780 --> 01:06:05,150
And I remember we had Chinese food.
1300
01:06:05,150 --> 01:06:06,500
We had Asian food that day as well.
1301
01:06:06,500 --> 01:06:10,420
We, so it's just a pretty
little culture to the kids.
1302
01:06:10,420 --> 01:06:11,110
I feel like.
1303
01:06:11,755 --> 01:06:15,745
If we don't pass these to the kids, they
just, you know, it's going to die with us.
1304
01:06:15,755 --> 01:06:18,685
So it's up to them to like
partake in things like that.
1305
01:06:18,705 --> 01:06:23,834
And mainly, especially respecting it, you
know, other cultures have this certain
1306
01:06:23,834 --> 01:06:25,195
festival that they do and all that.
1307
01:06:25,195 --> 01:06:26,005
So you respect it.
1308
01:06:26,044 --> 01:06:28,614
Cause like, you know, and then
they will respect yours as well.
1309
01:06:29,504 --> 01:06:31,385
So that's why we always do that.
1310
01:06:31,395 --> 01:06:32,705
We always just give them a little humble.
1311
01:06:34,130 --> 01:06:37,650
Usually straight away go to the shops to
go get lollies or something, but it's like
1312
01:06:37,650 --> 01:06:42,020
a little, you know, and we believe in like
for New Year's as well, like Tamil New
1313
01:06:42,020 --> 01:06:46,800
Year, which is in April, we wear brand
new clothes, you know, it's not just the
1314
01:06:46,990 --> 01:06:50,890
New Year, the 31st of December, so each
culture have their own New Year's as well.
1315
01:06:51,440 --> 01:06:55,660
So we do that as well in April and
the kids, you know, will do, again,
1316
01:06:55,660 --> 01:06:59,200
there'll be prayer, we cook food,
we eat, they get ducky, you put new
1317
01:06:59,200 --> 01:07:02,070
clothes on, so the kids know that, so.
1318
01:07:02,915 --> 01:07:04,545
Oh, well, the oldest knows that, so.
1319
01:07:09,255 --> 01:07:10,805
Oh, he will, he will.
1320
01:07:11,115 --> 01:07:13,505
At the moment, he's just like,
what's going on, but he will.
1321
01:07:22,415 --> 01:07:28,445
Well, I feel like my Tamil culture,
basically, like, mainly, it's a lot
1322
01:07:28,445 --> 01:07:32,374
about respect and, like I said, you
do the prayers and things like that.
1323
01:07:32,775 --> 01:07:36,455
It's more about how like the community is
as well, like as a family and all that.
1324
01:07:36,455 --> 01:07:40,495
So look, grieving is a very hard
thing that it will hit you whenever
1325
01:07:40,525 --> 01:07:43,315
you could be driving one day and just
hits you like it's done it with me.
1326
01:07:43,875 --> 01:07:48,030
So I feel like people understand,
like, as they've been through it with
1327
01:07:48,030 --> 01:07:51,100
you, as a family, as like, you know,
even your neighbours and all that, so
1328
01:07:51,690 --> 01:07:56,890
grieving is nothing to be ashamed of,
really, like, you know, we all grieve
1329
01:07:56,940 --> 01:08:01,319
differently, you know, I never believe,
like, grieving will stop, you know,
1330
01:08:01,360 --> 01:08:04,739
like, for that person, because you're
grieving a particular person, idea of
1331
01:08:04,739 --> 01:08:08,190
them, like, when they were there and
all that, so, you know, don't keep
1332
01:08:08,190 --> 01:08:10,945
your grief inside, just, you know, Out.
1333
01:08:11,005 --> 01:08:14,695
Like, you know, grief happens, it's
just, it's part of who a person is.
1334
01:08:14,695 --> 01:08:17,735
Like it's the person's gone
now, so you always like, you
1335
01:08:17,735 --> 01:08:18,845
know, in the memory of them.
1336
01:08:19,885 --> 01:08:23,845
So grieving, I think just, I feel like it
makes you not forget about that person.
1337
01:08:24,145 --> 01:08:28,225
So, yeah, like, and part of my
culture, like I said, for that
1338
01:08:28,225 --> 01:08:30,955
month, you know, every month
you are thinking of that person.
1339
01:08:30,955 --> 01:08:33,475
You're doing this special offering, so.
1340
01:08:33,995 --> 01:08:36,815
Even now, it was just the
five years anniversary.
1341
01:08:36,815 --> 01:08:39,825
So my mom went, I think they
did the prayer, the offering,
1342
01:08:39,825 --> 01:08:40,805
the temple and all that.
1343
01:08:40,805 --> 01:08:43,145
So you just remember the
person as much as you can.
1344
01:08:43,355 --> 01:08:47,585
And actually, I forgot to mention
like here, I think the only,
1345
01:08:47,665 --> 01:08:49,215
the funeral being was pastoral.
1346
01:08:49,455 --> 01:08:50,995
So that was completely different as well.
1347
01:08:50,995 --> 01:08:52,414
That was like, you
know, it wasn't at home.
1348
01:08:53,595 --> 01:08:54,105
It was somewhere else.
1349
01:08:54,105 --> 01:08:56,515
And like the way, again,
the grieving is different.
1350
01:08:56,525 --> 01:08:58,255
You have like, the wake is different.
1351
01:08:58,510 --> 01:09:02,180
It's just, you know, each culture do
their own way that they've learned
1352
01:09:02,180 --> 01:09:06,230
and, you know, that's been passed
on, again, by our grandparents,
1353
01:09:06,230 --> 01:09:07,669
like, you know, just how we do it.
1354
01:09:07,860 --> 01:09:11,460
And again, the grieving, they might not
be a monthly thing, but you remember
1355
01:09:11,460 --> 01:09:15,380
that, you know, a Muslim, you know,
that day, You remember them and then
1356
01:09:15,380 --> 01:09:18,110
when the year anniversary happened,
like you, you still remember them?
1357
01:09:45,390 --> 01:09:45,750
Yeah.
1358
01:09:49,010 --> 01:09:49,490
Yeah.
1359
01:09:49,490 --> 01:09:49,940
Exactly.
1360
01:09:49,940 --> 01:09:54,650
And like, you know how I said you, my
culture, like, you know the cremation.
1361
01:09:55,430 --> 01:10:00,290
So then the next day you collect
the ash and then you go and
1362
01:10:00,290 --> 01:10:04,730
like, you know, you release it
somewhere where that person wanted.
1363
01:10:04,730 --> 01:10:08,630
And for my dad, he always said growing up.
1364
01:10:08,845 --> 01:10:13,075
There was a river he used to play
out, you know, like in an area like
1365
01:10:13,105 --> 01:10:16,525
this, you know, friends and siblings
and all that, like, you know, and
1366
01:10:16,525 --> 01:10:19,685
he remembered his mom crossing that
river to go to work and all that.
1367
01:10:19,685 --> 01:10:21,695
So he wanted it to release the ash there.
1368
01:10:21,695 --> 01:10:24,135
So then the next day, the
boys did that as well.
1369
01:10:24,755 --> 01:10:28,835
And my brother in law, my nephew, they
went and released the ash in that area.
1370
01:10:29,475 --> 01:10:31,455
So in a way, my dad got sick.
1371
01:10:32,435 --> 01:10:34,155
We were hoping the surgery would go ahead.
1372
01:10:34,165 --> 01:10:36,335
He'll be okay and all that, but he didn't.
1373
01:10:36,375 --> 01:10:41,010
And In a way, he did pass away suddenly in
a way, because it was, it went quite quick
1374
01:10:41,020 --> 01:10:47,310
the way he's felt his health declined, but
even though it was unexpected in a way,
1375
01:10:47,320 --> 01:10:52,039
at least we've had that conversation with
him in the past, he said, you know, I want
1376
01:10:52,039 --> 01:10:56,500
it to be, you know, I want to be cremated,
I, you know, you go release the ash.
1377
01:10:57,350 --> 01:10:58,210
in that area.
1378
01:10:58,240 --> 01:11:03,120
So in a way that helps with your grief
because you've had that conversation.
1379
01:11:03,690 --> 01:11:08,040
And for me, then look before
having kids, I never thought
1380
01:11:08,040 --> 01:11:09,340
about death and things like that.
1381
01:11:09,430 --> 01:11:14,030
I'm like, Oh, you know, but then
like, for me personally, like, I
1382
01:11:14,030 --> 01:11:17,399
was like, I had this conversation I
haven't had with anyone, like probably
1383
01:11:17,979 --> 01:11:19,790
with Ben, but then the husband.
1384
01:11:19,790 --> 01:11:25,010
And then I'm like, in a way, do I
want to be here or back in Mauritius?
1385
01:11:25,010 --> 01:11:26,960
It's like, your heart is in two places.
1386
01:11:27,805 --> 01:11:33,225
All the times, you know, so it gets
you to think like, you know, what
1387
01:11:33,225 --> 01:11:35,915
would I want to be like the situation
love that you look as you look
1388
01:11:35,915 --> 01:11:37,325
tomorrow is not promised to anyone.
1389
01:11:37,925 --> 01:11:40,165
So, things can happen like this.
1390
01:11:40,765 --> 01:11:44,295
So, it kind of like makes you think
like, you know, maybe it's a conversation
1391
01:11:44,295 --> 01:11:48,165
you need to have, have a plan, even
if you don't want to talk to someone,
1392
01:11:48,175 --> 01:11:51,755
maybe write it somewhere like, you
know, a form of a will or something
1393
01:11:51,755 --> 01:11:55,185
like, it just gets you thinking, you
know, when someone passes away, like,
1394
01:11:55,185 --> 01:11:57,475
you know, how will my situation be?
1395
01:12:00,005 --> 01:12:02,045
Yeah, yeah, oh for sure.
1396
01:12:14,145 --> 01:12:14,735
Exactly.
1397
01:12:15,295 --> 01:12:15,855
Yeah, yeah.
1398
01:12:17,325 --> 01:12:17,585
Yeah,
1399
01:12:20,915 --> 01:12:21,325
exactly.
1400
01:12:21,875 --> 01:12:22,145
Exactly.
1401
01:12:22,145 --> 01:12:22,465
Yes.
1402
01:12:22,475 --> 01:12:27,305
So in a way that was like, like I said,
it helps like, you know, because then
1403
01:12:27,315 --> 01:12:31,144
you would have thought like, even though
let's say he didn't say where the place
1404
01:12:31,145 --> 01:12:33,835
he wanted the ash to be released, you're
like, it will always be on your mind.
1405
01:12:33,844 --> 01:12:35,045
Like, is that the place he wanted?
1406
01:12:35,904 --> 01:12:38,315
You know, like, did I do
right by him to do this?
1407
01:12:38,315 --> 01:12:39,434
Like he did say cremation.
1408
01:12:39,434 --> 01:12:40,235
So we did that.
1409
01:12:40,605 --> 01:12:41,575
What do we do with the ash now?
1410
01:12:41,575 --> 01:12:44,315
So, you know, like, so, you know,
1411
01:12:46,725 --> 01:12:47,285
yeah.
1412
01:12:47,380 --> 01:12:48,785
Yeah.
1413
01:12:48,785 --> 01:12:50,189
Yeah.
1414
01:13:01,210 --> 01:13:02,100
Exactly.
1415
01:13:06,640 --> 01:13:07,150
Yeah.
1416
01:13:10,800 --> 01:13:11,350
Yeah.
1417
01:13:11,420 --> 01:13:12,020
Yeah.
1418
01:13:21,650 --> 01:13:22,460
Exactly.
1419
01:13:22,460 --> 01:13:22,730
Yeah.
1420
01:13:22,730 --> 01:13:24,970
And I still remember the
day he said it to me.
1421
01:13:24,970 --> 01:13:26,030
Like he told you to my sisters.
1422
01:13:26,030 --> 01:13:26,590
I went to me.
1423
01:13:26,970 --> 01:13:29,890
We went like a, it was like
a, not so much kayaking.
1424
01:13:29,890 --> 01:13:30,780
We went up in a boat.
1425
01:13:30,980 --> 01:13:32,009
One of his friends got a boat.
1426
01:13:32,010 --> 01:13:33,214
So we went up that river.
1427
01:13:33,765 --> 01:13:38,045
And Ben was with us as well then, and
then he said, like, oh, this is a river,
1428
01:13:38,385 --> 01:13:41,875
you know, my mum used to cross this, we
used, I've had so much fun here, we used
1429
01:13:41,875 --> 01:13:46,525
to play on the rocks and all that, and one
day when I die, make sure, you know, like,
1430
01:13:49,595 --> 01:13:51,164
so, like, you know.
1431
01:13:53,620 --> 01:13:56,780
Like, it's, it's very like, you know,
he was showing me things and like,
1432
01:13:56,780 --> 01:13:58,390
it's like, oh, it's so great here.
1433
01:13:58,450 --> 01:14:00,010
We used to catch this here.
1434
01:14:00,010 --> 01:14:01,240
We used to do this.
1435
01:14:01,700 --> 01:14:04,360
Oh, and then like, you know,
but yeah, make sure when I die,
1436
01:14:04,440 --> 01:14:07,119
like, you know, it's like, okay,
you would just tell me about it.
1437
01:14:07,120 --> 01:14:10,520
Like, you know, so he's like, always
telling me how much fun he had there.
1438
01:14:10,530 --> 01:14:11,539
And it was like, okay.
1439
01:14:11,770 --> 01:14:14,920
At least like, you know, in a way
the conversation, like he's had that
1440
01:14:14,920 --> 01:14:17,690
out there, so we'll respect that.
1441
01:14:20,440 --> 01:14:20,800
Yeah.
1442
01:14:21,089 --> 01:14:21,539
Yeah.
1443
01:14:27,639 --> 01:14:28,509
Oh, I know.
1444
01:14:28,780 --> 01:14:34,110
Like I was not canceling this because
something will happen and then I'll
1445
01:14:34,110 --> 01:14:35,609
be like, one month will have passed.
1446
01:14:36,400 --> 01:14:36,720
You know?
1447
01:14:36,720 --> 01:14:38,040
So I'm like, no, let's do it.
1448
01:14:38,230 --> 01:14:39,060
It's a long weekend.
1449
01:14:39,060 --> 01:14:39,500
Let's do it.
1450
01:14:39,530 --> 01:14:39,780
Yes.
1451
01:14:39,850 --> 01:14:40,450
Fantastic.
1452
01:14:40,550 --> 01:14:41,580
It's good to talk about that.
1453
01:14:41,620 --> 01:14:44,250
Like, look, until you go through
it, people don't understand.
1454
01:14:44,420 --> 01:14:44,850
CATHERINE: Yeah.
1455
01:14:44,880 --> 01:14:47,130
NYANA: And there's just so much you
can tell someone this will happen.
1456
01:14:47,179 --> 01:14:47,750
You got to do this.
1457
01:14:47,750 --> 01:14:48,360
You got to do that.
1458
01:14:48,360 --> 01:14:51,470
But, and people will tell you as
well, you know, this will happen.
1459
01:14:51,470 --> 01:14:52,119
That will happen.
1460
01:14:52,119 --> 01:14:53,709
But until you go through
it and you leave it.
1461
01:14:53,770 --> 01:14:54,119
You don't
1462
01:14:54,149 --> 01:14:55,069
CATHERINE: really get it, do you?
1463
01:14:55,500 --> 01:14:56,100
NYANA: Exactly.
1464
01:14:56,100 --> 01:14:59,710
And different family members will go
through different grieving process
1465
01:14:59,710 --> 01:15:00,950
and you gotta respect that as well.
1466
01:15:00,990 --> 01:15:01,170
So.
1467
01:15:01,280 --> 01:15:01,620
Yeah,
1468
01:15:01,620 --> 01:15:02,080
CATHERINE: totally.
1469
01:15:02,280 --> 01:15:02,780
So right.
1470
01:15:03,000 --> 01:15:04,080
NYANA: Yeah, exactly.
1471
01:15:04,725 --> 01:15:06,215
CATHERINE: Thank you so much, Liana.
1472
01:15:06,595 --> 01:15:08,235
Alright, thank you!
1473
01:15:11,205 --> 01:15:14,614
We hope you enjoyed today's
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1474
01:15:14,924 --> 01:15:16,515
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1475
01:15:17,445 --> 01:15:21,715
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1476
01:15:21,715 --> 01:15:23,564
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1477
01:15:23,815 --> 01:15:26,205
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1478
01:15:26,355 --> 01:15:29,135
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1479
01:15:29,315 --> 01:15:33,475
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1480
01:15:33,475 --> 01:15:35,215
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1481
01:15:35,485 --> 01:15:36,835
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1482
01:15:36,985 --> 01:15:37,975
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1483
01:15:37,975 --> 01:15:41,905
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1484
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Resources
- My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?
Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Purchase it here.
- Support Services
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