Amreli: An unusual ceremony took place the village of Padarshinga in Lathi Taluka, Amreli district, Gujarat. In a first for the area, a car was decorated like a bride and then buried in a 12-foot-deep pit, accompanied by traditional drum beats and fanfare.
The car owner bid farewell to his vehicle through a ritual, akin to a scriptural ceremony. Before the burial, the car wasbeautifully decorated that it appeared to be brand new, despite it being intended for “samadhi”—a term usually reserved for the burial of saints, mahants or revered souls. But in Padarshinga, a car burial ceremony was held.
The event was marked by the beats of the dhol-nagara and the car, like a flower, was paraded through the village. Villagers and invited guests, including relatives from Ahmedabad and Surat, attended the unique event, even as the sounds of a DJ music set came to a halt.
Gujarati businessman, held a funeral procession for the car he used for 12 years in Amreli district of Gujarat.
-around 4 lakh spent on the event
-15k people gathered to watch the event #Gujarat #cars pic.twitter.com/MR8EekR2we— Abhishek 🇮🇳 (@iamAbhishek021) November 9, 2024
Sentimental farewell
The car belonged to Sanjay Polla, a farmer from Padarshinga, who had bought it in 2014. According to him, the car symbolised his success and social progress over the years. Now old and no longer in use, Sanjay could not bring himself to sell the car to which he had developed a deep emotional attachment. This led to his decision to give the car a “tomb.”
A pit, 12 feet deep, had already been prepared at his home when the car arrived. It was showered with flowers, a gesture typical before a samadhi ceremony. In an unexpected turn, the family also sent out invitations for the event. A huge number of people showed up to the ceremony.
Rs 4 lakh ceremony
The entire event cost nearly four lakh rupees, with a grand feast arranged for about 1,500 people. Instead of discarding or selling the old car, Sanjay Polla chose this unique form of tribute. To ensure the memory of the car lives on, he plans to plant a tree at the burial site, symbolising growth and remembrance. What began as a bond between a person and his car has now sparked widespread conversation and reflection in the community.
