What is a Columbarium? Your Guide to Cremation and Ash Storage Options

A columbarium is a structure specifically designed to house urns containing cremated remains. The word "columbarium" comes from the Latin word columba, meaning "dove," as early columbariums were pigeonhole-like structures for housing doves. Today, the term refers to a building or wall with compartments, or niches, where urns are stored.

These niches are often sealed with a memorial plaque bearing the name, date of birth, and date of death of the deceased. Families can also personalize the niche with additional items, such as photos, messages, or religious symbols. Columbariums can be found in various settings, including cemeteries, temples, churches, or even stand-alone structures dedicated to ash storage.

For families who choose cremation, a columbarium provides a permanent resting place for their loved ones, creating a sacred space for future generations to visit and remember.

There are various types of columbariums available, depending on the needs, preferences, and budget of the family. Below are some common types:

• Indoor Columbariums: Located inside buildings or mausoleums, these columbariums are typically climate-controlled, making them a comfortable option for families who prefer visiting in a sheltered, indoor environment. Many indoor columbariums are designed with serene, spiritual atmospheres and can include seating areas for families to reflect or pray.
• Outdoor Columbariums: Often found in cemeteries or memorial gardens, outdoor columbariums are exposed to the elements but are beautifully designed with peaceful landscapes. These structures can range from standalone walls to more elaborate mausoleum-like buildings with columbarium sections.
• Public Columbariums: Managed by religious institutions or government authorities, public columbariums often cater to a wide community, offering various niche sizes and memorial options. Public columbariums can be found in temples, churches, and cemeteries.
• Private Columbariums: Families with a strong preference for exclusivity and privacy may opt for a private columbarium, where only the remains of family members are stored. These structures are often personalized and can be part of a private estate or family-owned land.

Each type of columbarium offers its own benefits, and families can choose based on their personal preferences, religious practices, and financial considerations.

Columbariums function as a resting place for the urns containing cremated remains, offering a place of solace and reflection for families. Here's how the process typically works:

1. Selecting a Niche: After the cremation, families visit a columbarium to select a niche where the urn will be stored. Niches come in various sizes, accommodating either one urn or multiple urns if a family wishes to store the remains of several relatives together.
2. Customization: Once a niche is chosen, families can customize the exterior with memorial plaques. These plaques often display the name of the deceased along with dates and sometimes inscriptions, prayers, or artwork. Some columbariums also allow families to decorate the niche area with personal items or flowers.
3. Placing the Urn: After the customization, the urn is placed inside the niche, which is then sealed. Depending on the columbarium, this sealing could be permanent or semi-permanent, allowing for future adjustments if the family wishes to add more urns.
4. Visiting: Columbariums offer a peaceful environment where families can visit their loved ones’ final resting place. Some columbariums have visiting hours, while others allow round-the-clock access. Families can visit during anniversaries, birthdays, or religious holidays to pay their respects and reflect.

In Singapore, where space is limited, columbariums have become a common choice for many families. With increasing cremation rates due to urbanization, the government and religious institutions have created columbariums to meet public demand. Both public and private options are available, with facilities designed to accommodate the diverse religious and cultural practices of the population.

Some of the notable columbariums in Singapore include:

• Mandai Columbarium Complex: A government-managed facility, this columbarium offers a serene space for families of all faiths to store cremated remains. It includes both indoor and outdoor niches, as well as prayer and reflection areas.
• Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery: One of the largest Buddhist temples in Singapore, this monastery has a columbarium that caters to Buddhist families. The columbarium is located in a tranquil setting, surrounded by traditional Buddhist architecture and peaceful gardens.
• Church-Managed Columbariums: Many churches in Singapore, such as the Church of St. Teresa, have their own columbariums for the Catholic community. These columbariums are located within the church grounds, offering families a spiritual and familiar place to remember their loved ones.

Whether it’s a religiously-affiliated columbarium or a government-operated one, Singaporean families have numerous options to choose from when it comes to storing cremated remains.

Click here to access our directory of columbaria in Singapore, price, location and more information on columbariums are available.

The cost of columbarium niches varies depending on the type of facility and the niche’s location within the columbarium. In general, public columbariums are more affordable, while private or exclusive niches may come with higher price tags.

Key factors affecting the cost include:

• Size of the niche: Larger niches that can hold multiple urns tend to cost more.
• Location within the columbarium: Niches at eye level or in premium locations within the facility often carry a higher price.
• Maintenance fees: Families may need to pay ongoing maintenance fees for the upkeep of the columbarium and its surroundings.

While the costs may vary, many families view the expense as a long-term investment in a respectful and secure place for their loved ones’ remains.

Find out more about columbarium prices in government and some private columbraiums in our article here.

Columbariums hold deep cultural and religious significance, especially in regions like Singapore where multiple faiths coexist. For Buddhists, Taoists, Catholics, and other religious groups, columbariums offer a sacred space where the spirits of the deceased can be honored and remembered.

For many Buddhist and Taoist families, columbariums are visited during important religious holidays like Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) and Hungry Ghost Festival. These festivals provide opportunities to pay respects, offer prayers, and make offerings at the columbarium.

Similarly, Christian families often visit columbariums on All Souls' Day, anniversaries, or other important dates to reflect, pray, and remember their loved ones. These religious practices underscore the importance of having a dedicated space for ashes, where family members can continue to feel connected to those who have passed.

A columbarium serves as both a practical and emotional solution for families choosing cremation. By providing a dignified resting place for cremated remains, columbariums offer families a sacred and permanent space for remembrance. Whether you choose a public columbarium, a religious institution, or a private family columbarium, this option provides a meaningful way to honor the deceased while ensuring their memory lives on in a serene and accessible environment.

In a world where cremation is becoming more prevalent, columbariums continue to offer a timeless and respected way to preserve the legacy of loved ones, blending tradition with modern needs.