Chinese Cemeteries of Kolkata

Subhadip Mukherjee

3 years ago

There are 7 Chinese Cemeteries in Kolkata and out of these 6 are located in and around Tangra while the 7^th one is located in Chowbaga. For a long I have been documenting these cemeteries so finally I have decided to compile a single blog with all the details and location.

I have covered all the cemeteries along with that provided information about how to visit them. I have also covered the Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) which is the best time to visit these places.

Traditional Chinse Burial

In Kolkata, while most Chinese are Christians, they do keep following their traditional practices especially when it comes to funerals and burials. Some Chinese families have started burying the dead at Christian cemeteries while some still follow the traditional practice of performing the ritual where their ancestors and relatives are buried.

When you visit most of these Chinese cemeteries don’t be surprised to see a small square-shaped memorial for an individual. Also don’t think the person is buried under that. In some cemeteries instead of the small square-shaped, you can find small miniature red horseshoe-shaped memorials. It all depends on the space available and what the family of the deceased wants.

Traditionally even in Kolkata when a person dies in the Chinese community the body is buried in a coffin and placed there without any disturbance for five years. After that, the body is exhumed by a “Bone Collector”. This person will first open the coffin and let it be in the open for a few days and then the bones are carefully collected. The bones then are cleaned with water and then with liquor and also with rice wine and left to dry.

Some even crush these bones into powder and place them in an urn while some prefer to keep them as bones. After drying the bones are placed on top of these memorial concrete columns. Usually, you will find a circular hump on these structures as that’s where the bones are kept. After that, a memorial plaque with the name of the person is put on one side of these columns.

Burials Which Are Kept For 5 Years in This State

After The Washing by The Bone Collector, the Bones Are Then Transferred into These. The Top Extended Portion Contains the Remains.

Some Even Keep Them in Bigger Tombs Like These

Family Burial Site with The Horse Shoe Shapes Temple in The Center Surrounded by Tombs from The Same Family or Clan.

List of Chinese Cemeteries in Kolkata

Choong Ye Thong Cemetery
98, D. C. Dey Road, Kolkata 700015

Gee Hing Cemetery
6/1, Meher Ali Lane, Kolkata 700015

Nam Soon Deng Cheong
6/1D, Mathur Babu Lane, Kolkata 700015

Sea Vai Coon Koon Cemetery
12, New Tangra Road, Kolkata 700015

Sea Ip Cemetery
77, Cristopher Road, Kolkata 700046

Toong On Cemetery
64, Matheswartala Road, Kolkata 700046

Yin Tee Thong Cemetery
545 & 631 Adarsha Nagar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700100

* There is a Chinese Funeral Parlor very near to Sea Ip Cemetery, earlier this used to be a small functioning cemetery but now only functions as a funeral parlor for the Chinese community. Various religious customs are performed here before the final burial.

List of Chinese Cemeteries in Kolkata on Map

Choong Ye Thong Cemetery

This is the largest Chinese cemetery in Kolkata so we will first start with this one. The size of the property is big and the number of tombs is equally large. The only problem that you will see is that most of the tombs do not follow any orientation or planned placement, it’s spread all over and facing every possible direction. There are no planned lanes to visit all the tombs and high chance one needs to jump or walk over one.

You can visit this cemetery freely without any prior permission.

Choong Ye Thong Cemetery Kolkata – Main Gate

Choong Ye Thong Cemetery Kolkata – Plaque Outside Main Gate

Gee Hing Cemetery

This is the most difficult to navigate as you need to take small lanes and by-lanes to reach this place. Marked by a green gate once you enter you can see a vast plot of land with a large water tank. The tombs out here are planned Neatley in rows. There is a horseshoe-shaped temple along with a shaded area for resting.

You can visit this cemetery freely without any prior permission. Speak to the local mali who stays along with his family within the compound and request him to allow you to enter and see the place.

Gee Hing Cemetery Kolkata – Outside Plaque

Gee Hing Cemetery Kolkata – Resting Shade

Nam Soon Deng Cheong Cemetery

Going back to the main road just another five-minute drive will take you to this cemetery. The size of the cemetery is huge and the number of tombs is less. The tombs out here are mostly small horseshoe-shaped types rather than square column types. One can also spot a few recent burials which can be easily be differentiated by the shape and a stick placed on one side with the name of the deceased. The local mali will not allow you to enter and especially take photographs. Ask him to call the person in charge who stays at Tiretti Bazar and speak to him directly and request him to allow you to look around.

Nam Soon Deng Cheong Cemetery – Plaque Outside the Main Gate

Nam Soon Deng Cheong Cemetery – Resting Area

Sea Vai Coon Koon Cemetery

From the main road, you only see a small gate and a long passage that leads to another gate. Once you cross the second gate you will see the cemetery to your left, a small resting shade in the front, and a small pond to your right. Most of the tombs out here are square column types.

The local mali will not allow you to enter and especially take photographs. Ask him to call the person in charge and speak to him directly and request him to allow you to look around.

Sea Vai Coon Koon Cemetery – Plaque Outside Main Gate

Sea Vai Coon Koon Cemetery – Second Gate

Sea Ip Cemetery

This cemetery is located in Tangra around the popular restaurants in this locality. It’s a small cemetery with rows of toms on the far end and new ones near the entrance under the tree.

The local mali will not allow you to enter and especially take photographs. Ask him to call the person in charge and speak to him directly and request him to allow you to look around.

Toong On Cemetery

This is the smallest cemetery and is located in Tangra very near to the chain of restaurants.

The local mali stays next to the compound and if you request him, he will open the gates and allow you inside.

Plaque Outside Toong on Cemetery Kolkata

Yin Tee Thong Cemetery

This cemetery is located away from Tangra and we have to travel to Chowbaga next to Huang Tsang Monastery.

There is no one to stop you and you can just enter and go around the cemetery. Don’t be surprised to spot a shop inside the gate selling rolls, chow, and other street snacks.

Plaque Outside Yin Tee Thong Cemetery Kolkata

Plaques Inside Yin Tee Thong Cemetery Kolkata

Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) Kolkata

This is the annual festival where most Chinese families visit the cemeteries to pay homage to the deceased and ancestors. Since this is a festival that follows solar term thus falls somewhere between the 4^th to 6^th of April every year. It’s more like All Souls Day for the Chinese.

Families prepare a feast and visit the cemetery and sweep the grave to clean it. However now the mali usually cleans it in advance and the rest is done symbolically. The family members burn Joss Sticks and burn paper money and Joss Paper, some even burst firecrackers. There will be an offering of food, wine, and things that the departed person liked. Some even burn cigarettes symbolically.