The custom of scattering a loved one’s ashes into a river within the Isaan province has been banned in a preferred area for the ritual after locals reported that a service was arranging boat journeys for families to dump not solely the cremated remains into the river, but additionally ritual items and personal possessions of the deceased. Sometimes even mattresses and pillows had been thrown in. In northeastern Thailand, known as Isaan, some families will travel far to scatter ashes into the Mun River in Nakhon Ratchasima. The Bangkok Post says it is common for boats to be docked by popular spots, like temples, to take families out to the river to scatter the ashes. One boat service was reportedly taking as much as five households out to the river every day and allowed them to dump ceremonial items, like candles and incense sticks, as properly as the deceased’s personal gadgets.
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