Rivers Here and Rivers There
Jiva Parthipan was commissioned by Powerhouse to write this essay for The River, a series of new writing and photography responding to the landscape, communities and histories surrounding the Parramatta River.
Rivers Here and Rivers There
My father died.
I wasn’t here, in my home near the Parramatta River, in the community where, after multiple migrations, most of my family now lives. I was in India, near another body of water, having an alternative treatment for my Parkinson’s disease.
I missed the funeral but I made it back for the 31st day after his passing – a day on which Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus perform anthiyesti, a ritual involving food, prayer and family which is meant to release the deceased from reincarnation so that, unlike us, they are freed from the burden of inhabiting a body and can enjoy the afterlife or be reborn.
On the living room floor of my apartment in Westmead, I made with our priest. Together we rolled the balls of cooked rice, ghee and sesame seeds in the palms of our hands as prayers flowed from our mouths. My family and friends looked on. We offered these pindams to our ancestors, to my father and to his departed soul. Lamps were waved anti-clockwise, normally they are waved clockwise in Hindu rituals but when death comes time travels backwards.
