A German national settled in Udaipur for the last 17 years passed away a week back. His final rites were conducted as per Hindu rituals according to his will.

74 year old German Guenther Maria Norrenberg passed away a week back in Udaipur. He was suffering from cancer since the past eight years. Guenther was running a restaurant in Savage Garden in Chandpole area along with his friend Pritam Pandey, Rakesh Yadav, Chandra Prakash and Ranjit Singh Rao. He was also partner at Bakery Cafe at Gangaur Ghat.

Guenther Maria’s final rites were done as per Hindu rituals as specified in his will. In his will, Guenther mentioned that he was a Christian but wanted his final rites to be carried out as per Hindu religion. He came to Udaipur in the year 2000 and fell in love with the city.

Administration had to wait for a week before they got permission from the German embassy to carry out his funeral as per his will. Indian administration and German Embassy were both shocked to read Guenther’s will. The will was written around 6 months back mentioning his last wish of following Hindu rituals. Also he did not want to return to Germany and wished to spend the rest of his life in Udaipur.

More than a 100 friends of Guenther carried out his final procession and performed his rites. His close friend Pritam Pandey said that Guenther first came to Udaipur as a tour guide in 1980. He came to Udaipur once again in 2000 never to return. Guenther Maria visited temples very often. He was deeply connected to certain families here in the city. His connection with people was so intense that he was seen at all the ceremonies of final rites and rituals in their families.

Reportedly Guenther Maria Norrenberg has assigned his entire property to a friend in Udaipur through his will.