Why do Cambodian burn the dead ?

Answer 1

They feel that a soul would be restless, or not have proper passage into the afterlife if the body were not burned.

"Hindus consider the funeral as the final "samskar" or ritual of life. Cremation is generally mandatory for all Hindus, except for saints and children under the age of 7 years. Cremation is seen as the only way in which all the five elements of fire, water, earth, air and space would be satisfied by returning the body to these elements as after cremation the ashes are poured into the sacred river Ganges or into the sea. After death the body of the deceased is placed on the ground with the head of the deceased pointing towards south which is considered the direction of the dead. The body is anointed with sacred items such as sandalwood paste and holy ashes, tulsi (basil) leaves and water from the river Ganges. The eldest son would wisper "Om namah shivay" or "Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya" near the ear of the deceased. An oil lamp is lit besides the deceased and chapters from the holy Bhagavad Gita or Garud Purana are recited. Traditionally the body has to be cremated within 24 hours after death, as keeping the body longer is considered to lead to impurity and hinder the passage of the dead to afterlife. Hence before cremation as the body lies in state, minimal physical contact with the body is observed. A priest is called in to lead the formal religious rituals, after which the body is taken to the cremation ground, where the eldest son normally lights the funeral pyre, this act is considered to be the most important duty of a son as it is believed that he leads his parents from this world into moksha. Immediately after the cremation, the family members of the deceased all have to take a purifying bath and observe a 12-day mourning period. This mourning period ends on the morning of the thirteenth day on which a Shraddh ceremony is conducted in which offerings are given to ancestors and other gods in order to grant liberation or moksha to the deceased."

Answer 2

It not just Cambodians but many religions across the world burn the dead person on a prye. it is as per their religious customs .Nothing wrong in that, what if the Cambodian has to ask why you bury your dead ?

Answer 3

this is the particularly the Catholic Christians that don't practice cremation, on account that's merely too very comparable to an historical sacrifice. Mormons have been prevalent to exhume (dig up) lifeless non-christians and baptize the bodies against the families' needs.

Answer 4

High humidity causes bodies to rot quickly. Creamation also minimizes the spread of diease.

Answer 5

Most hygienic way of disposing the dead.

Answer 6

It's called "cremation", Americans do it too...where do you think the ashes come from?

Answer 7

Because they start to smell after awhile - D'UH

Answer 8

It's their tradition.