Kremasi

Kremasi, or cremation, is the process of reducing a deceased person’s body to cremated remains through high-temperature combustion in a dedicated facility. It is practiced worldwide for cultural, religious, and practical reasons and offers an alternative to conventional burial.

The procedure typically involves confirming the deceased’s identity, preparing the body, placing it in a cremation container, and performing the cremation in a sealed chamber. After combustion, bone fragments are processed into a fine powder—often called ashes or cremains—which is returned to the family in an urn.

Cremation arrangements vary. Direct cremation omits a funeral service before the cremation, while traditional cremation includes a ceremony. Post-cremation choices include burial of ashes in a cemetery urn niche, entombment, keeping ashes at home, or scattering in approved locations. Some jurisdictions allow alkaline hydrolysis, a water-based alternative.

Cultural and religious contexts influence cremation. Acceptance ranges from broad to restricted. Hinduism and Buddhism commonly use cremation; Judaism and Islam traditionally favor burial and may discourage cremation. In the Catholic Church, cremation became permitted in 1963, with conditions for funeral rites. Laws and facilities governing cremation also vary by country and region.

Environmental considerations include emissions from the cremation process and energy use. Modern retorts with emission controls and efficiency standards aim to minimize pollutants. Alternative methods, such as alkaline hydrolysis, are promoted in some areas as lower-impact options.