A Japanese woman travelled to Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, carrying the ashes of her late husband to fulfil a wish he had expressed before his death. Mieko Catlett reached the town in August with the ashes of Robert Catlett, who was originally from the United States and had a special connection with Bageshwar.At the Saryu River, near Bagnath Temple, she performed the final rituals in the presence of priests and family members before immersing his ashes in the river. The ceremony was held after traditional prayers and chanting on the riverbank. The touching story and video of her journey went viral online in August.For Mieko, the visit was a return to a place she and Robert had first visited together in 2007. The couple had spent time in Bageshwar, where Robert developed a strong connection with the town and its natural surroundings.
They met at a yoga camp in 2005
Robert and Mieko first met in 2005 during a yoga practice camp. Mieko was an English professor in Japan, while Robert was originally from the United States. Mieko later encouraged Robert to move to Japan. In 2007, he moved from the US to Japan and began working as an English professor there. That same year, the couple visited Bageshwar. Robert introduced Mieko to the town and its natural beauty. They also spent some time there, developing a connection with the place that remained important to them. In 2009, Robert and Mieko got married and settled in Japan.
Robert died in 2022 after prolonged illness
Image Courtesy: Facebook/Mieko Cartlett
Robert’s health deteriorated in 2022. He had been undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness, but his condition did not improve. He died of a brain haemorrhage in 2022. After his death, Mieko continued to hold on to his wish to have his final rites performed in Bageshwar. Robert had expressed a desire for his ashes to be immersed in the sacred Saryu River at Bagnath Dham. Mieko eventually made the journey from Japan to ensure that the wish was fulfilled.
Local priests and guides accompanied her during the ceremony
In August 2026, Mieko reached the area near Bagnath Temple with Robert’s ashes. Local priests and guides accompanied her during the ceremony. Traditional Vedic rituals were performed on the riverbank before she immersed the ashes in the Saryu. The ceremony took place near the confluence of the Saryu and Gomti rivers, a significant religious site in Bageshwar.A video of the ceremony showed Mieko participating in the rituals and immersing her husband’s ashes in the river. Family members were also present. Prayers were conducted in the presence of a priest before the ashes were consigned to the river. Local residents and pilgrims noticed the ceremony, which became a topic of discussion in the area.Mieko’s journey came nearly two decades after her first visit to Bageshwar with Robert. The town had been part of their life together since 2007, before their marriage in 2009 and their move to Japan. This time, she returned alone with his ashes to carry out the final rites he had wished for.
