By Diksha Modi,News18

Copyright news18

In a heart-rending scene that challenged age-old customs, four daughters in Jabalpur carried their father’s bier on their shoulders, performing the last rites traditionally reserved for sons. The moving images from the cremation ground brought tears to the eyes of onlookers and left an indelible impression on the community. (News18 Hindi)
The deceased, Padma Modi, a resident of Panagar, was returning from a pilgrimage to Tirthraj Sammed Shikharji when he suffered a cardiac arrest. (News18 Hindi)
Despite immediate efforts by family and friends accompanying him, he could not be revived. His mortal remains were brought back to Jabalpur, where a wave of grief swept through the locality. (News18 Hindi)
Neighbours recalled that Modi had always given his daughters, Sushima, Mansi, Mahima, and Pari, a strong upbringing. “He never allowed them to feel any lack in life, nor did he differentiate between sons and daughters,” a family acquaintance said. (News18 Hindi)
Defying tradition, the four daughters shouldered their father’s bier during the final procession, walking with courage and composure as passersby stopped in their tracks. (News18 Hindi)
At the crematorium, they also performed the rituals with dignity, even as close relatives broke down in grief. The daughters steeled themselves and completed every ritual, embodying their father’s teachings. (News18 Hindi)
The funeral saw a large gathering, with members of local social organisations, the business fraternity, and residents paying their respects. Many were deeply moved by the sight of the young women performing their father’s last rites, a rare but growing departure from rigid societal norms. (News18 Hindi)