City Holds Ecological Burial Qingming Festival Public Memorial Ceremony
On April 2, a heartwarming and environmentally friendly event took place in the city as families gathered to remember their departed loved ones at an ecological burial Qingming Festival public memorial ceremony. The event, held at Changqing Life Memorial Park, saw 2,024 praying doves take flight, carrying the memories of those who had passed away.
The ceremony, which focused on eco-friendly burial practices such as sea burial of ashes and natural burials, aimed to promote a resource-saving and green approach to honoring the deceased. With over 42,000 people already buried ecologically in the city, the adoption of these practices has saved at least 20,000 square meters of land.
One touching moment during the ceremony was when family members wrote messages on a memorial wall, expressing their love and admiration for those they had lost. One attendee, 64-year-old Guo Hongying, shared her experience of honoring her mother’s wish for her ashes to be scattered in nature. Ms. Guo’s mother, a teacher, believed in the cycle of life and the importance of giving back to the environment.
As the ceremony commenced, participants held flowers in silence, paying their respects to the departed. The soldiers of honor presented a flower basket at the ecological burial monument, while ceremonial staff recited sacrificial texts and praised selfless love. The flying of 2,024 praying doves symbolized the eternal bond between the living and the deceased.
The monument, shaped like a torch, stood tall as a symbol of everlasting life. Additionally, 22 individuals who had opted for natural burials were laid to rest in the Evergreen Life Memorial Park, continuing their contribution to the world in silence.
Overall, the ceremony was a beautiful and poignant way for families to honor their loved ones while also promoting eco-friendly burial practices. As birds chirped and wind chimes jingled in the background, attendees found solace in the peaceful surroundings of the memorial park, ensuring that the memories of the departed would be cherished forever.