Photos: Belongings of the dead, left behind after Covid-19 cremations

A comb. A toothbrush. A bangle. A cotton scarf — protection from the summer heat now used as a face mask. The personal belongings of cremated Covid-19 victims lie strewn around the grounds of the Ulubari cremation ground in Guwahati, Assam. A series of photographs by the AP, that hints at a fundamental change from the rites and traditions that surround death in the Hindu religion.

Published on: Jul 10, 2021 4:45 PM IST

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Clothes of a deceased Covid-19 victim lie in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. India’s devastating Covid-19 surge in April and May left crematoriums overwhelmed with pyres often lit around the clock. (Anupam Nath / AP)

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A bangle belonging worn by a deceased Covid-19 victim lies discarded in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. Personal belongings of cremated Covid-19 victims lie strewn around the grounds of the Ulubari cremation ground in Guwahati, Assam’s capital. (Anupam Nath / AP)

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A shaving brush and gloves of deceased Covid-19 victims and their relatives lie in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. Covid-18 has claimed over 407,000 lives in India as of July 10 according to government figures. (Anupam Nath / AP)

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A pair of protective goggles of a deceased Covid-19 victim lies in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. The belongings are left behind because of fear of touching them. They are scattered around the entire grounds of the Ulubari crematorium, particularly where the pyres are lit. (Anupam Nath / AP)

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Earthen pots used during the cremation of a deceased Covid-19 victim lie in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. Hindus believe cremation of the body frees the soul so it can be reborn, and they often burn belongings that were with the body at the time of the death, AP reported. (Anupam Nath / AP)

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A comb belonging to a deceased Covid-19 victim lies in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. The scattered belongings perhaps, also reflects the grim fears grieving people — shaken by the deaths of their loved ones. (Anupam Nath / AP)

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An empty wraper of medicine used by a deceased Covid-19 victim lies in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. (Anupam Nath / AP)

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Banana leaves used during the last rituals of a deceased Covid-19 victim lie in a cremation ground in Guwahati on July 2. Infections across the country have since declined, but authorities are pushing to increase vaccinations as they prepare for another possible surge. (Anupam Nath / AP)