Meet Odisha’s Laxmi Jena who has been cremating dead bodies for past 13 years

Giving a dignified farewell to the dead is one of the noblest deeds anyone can do in their lifetime. Laxmi Jena from Baripada of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been doing this noble deed for the past 13 years now.

She has cremated hundreds of bodies and has never charged a penny. She is content with whatever people give me out of sympathy or happiness, claims Laxmi Jena.

“I’m doing it for self satisfaction. I take whatever people give me out of sympathy or happiness otherwise I’m content with whatever I’m doing. God has given me enough to survive and take care of my children,” Laxmi said.

Laxmi was very young and newly-married when she saw her husband cremating bodies and giving honourable farewells to the deceased. Initially started to extend a helping hand to her husband, Laxmi soon began to put the deceased to rest all by herself.

When asked if she gets afraid, Laxmi said, “No, I have no fear. But, I will agree that it smells very bad. I don’t have any fear of ghosts or witches. I have been doing it for years now and I have no experience of any paranormal activities.”

The noble deed of Laxmi has received overwhelming response from locals who heaped praises on the woman for her kind-heartedness. Apart from taking care of her 5 children, doing all the household chores and helping her husband, Laxmi has proved that humanity still exists.

Be it night or some rainy day or whatever, she has never turned away any bodies and performed the last rites with full dignity and honour.

“Her service for the dead is not everyone can do. She is exceptional and is chosen by the Lord. I salute her for her noble deeds. I always pray for her well-being. May more blessings come her way,” a local Bijay Lenka.

Similarly, another local Biswa Satpathy heaped praises on Laxmi and said, “We as human beings only shed tears after someone’s death. However, Laxmi is not normal. She is blessed and has been ‘serving’ the dead since years no matter what. I salute her upbringing.”