Gaara

What is the purpose of burying dead bodies? I assumed it was to mask the smells of decomposition, which can become foul very quickly, but I'm also told there is personal significance to it. That does not make sense. A dead body is an object. It cannot talk to you. I would not feel comforted sitting next to a decomposing heap of flesh, organs, and bones. I believe it is more efficient to burn the bodies. The odor of the burning flesh is only a temporary discomfort, and does not take as long as natural processes.

Burying is also impractical, for it is a waste of land, unless you were to bury many in one large hole. Even in that situation, a cremation would ultimately save resources. Labor, included.

Many things commonplace are not practical. I wonder why this is. I will have to look further into it.