Bhubaneswar, Oct 14: In a bizarre and emotionally charged spectacle, a 74-year-old retired Army man Mohan Lal from Konchi village in Bihar’s Gaya district stunned his community by staging his own funeral while still alive. The elaborate ceremony, complete with chants, rituals, and a symbolic cremation, was designed to test who truly cared about him.

Dressed in a white cloth and lying on a flower-decked “arthi,” Mohan Lal was carried to the cremation ground by family and friends who believed the funeral was real. Locals joined the procession, chanting “Ram Naam Satya Hai,” as is customary in Hindu last rites. But just as the pyre was about to be lit, Mohan Lal sat up and revealed the truth: it was all a staged event to witness genuine affection from his loved ones.

Adding to the drama, he set fire to his own symbolic pyre while the song “Chal ud ja re panchhi, ab desh hua begaana” played in the background. The ashes were later immersed in the river, and the event concluded with a feast for all attendees.

Following the viral spread of the incident on social media, local authorities have taken note. While no legal action has been initiated, officials from the Gaya district administration have reportedly reached out to Mohan Lal to understand the motive and ensure no public sentiment was harmed.

The event has triggered debates on loneliness among the elderly and the lengths to which some go to feel valued.

(The article is compiled by Krishna Hota)