November 3, 1906 – An article in the Oregonian records the alleged “first Hindoo funeral and cremation ever solemnized” in the United States. The funeral was held for Rauma Singh, who died in Astoria. The article describes the proceedings as “quiet,” “not as spectacular as was expected,” and lacking the “grewsomeness that was anticipated.” The rest of the article describes the ceremony, which was conducted by four other “Hindoos.”
Sindya N. Bhanoo writes the Observatory column in the Science section of The New York Times. She is also a board member of South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). This column’s material is from SAADA. https://www.saada.org/.