Background.

• Position: Burials - Funeral industry - Brief article

As the old saying goes, the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes. Burial rites have become increasingly involved over time, particularly for those who can afford it--as the Great Pyramids testify. Today, in the United States, a US$25-billion death-care industry oversees 1.8 million burials a year, with the average funeral costing about $6,000. As millions of baby boomers are expected to die by 2040, the market will only expand.

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Funerary options vary widely around the world, depending on culture and lifestyle. In Bombay, India...