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Tamil Nadu Christian group to web cast funerals |
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Source: www.assistnews.net Date: October 19, 2007 By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service
CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (ANS) -- Christians in Chennai are changing with the times. The Madras Cemeteries Board (MCB), the management body for Christian cemeteries, is starting online telecasting, or web casting of funeral service. It is meant to benefit the kin of the deceased who fail to attend the funeral.
This news was carried by The Times of India.
"We've taken a decision and are negotiating with IMAX, (a large-format
film company based in Ontario, Canada) to help us with the telecast. We'll extend this service next month," MCB member Bosco Alangar Raj told Times of India.
MCB, which manages Christian Cemeteries in Chennai, enables orderly burial of individuals of all denominations in accordance with that church's rituals. It was known previously known as the Madras Cemetery Committee which came into existence in 1956.
Bosco said MCB will offer both deferred and live telecast services. "Members need to log on to our site (www.madrascemeteries.com) and access the funeral info section, which will have videos with the names of the deceased.
MCB is yet to finalize the rates, since it has to take into account a number of parameters. "We're working on it and will fix rates in the next MCB meeting," Bosco said.
In case of a deferred telecast, the video will be made available only for a day or two. "If we save more videos, the site will slow down. This can create problems for those who log in to watch live telecast," he said.
MCB manages three cemeteries: Kilpauk General, Kasi Mode and Quibble Island in Chennai, formerly known as Madras. At least, 120 funerals take place per day and MCB expects to web cast at least two of them.
What prompted MCB to go online? "Globalization," said Bosco. "It is for Indians far and wide. When someone dies back home, the body is kept for three or four days until the close relatives arrive. But for some, it's difficult to reach even then. So watching the funeral services is a matter of consolation and convenience. This is where this service is relevant."
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