THE city s funeral service center held the 25th free sea burials for 77 deceased and the 5th tree burial for 40 others Wednesday, five days before the Qingming Festival, which is a traditional time for Chinese to pay their respects to deceased loved ones.
The ashes of the 40 deceased were buried under a banyan tree in the Jitian Cemetery in Yantian District.
The environmentally friendly way of disposing of ashes has gradually been accepted.
In Dapeng Bay, the ashes of the 77 deceased were mixed with flower petals and cast into the sea by family members.
There were more sea burials Wednesday than in any of the sea burials over the past 24 years, according to the funeral service center.
With the Qingming Festival just around the corner, the funeral service center has reminded cemetery visitors to avoid overcrowding at cemeteries.
Elderly and disabled people could pay their respects at home. The funeral service center can deliver ashes to homes.
(Li Hao)
