Death

The time after death of a person is given a lot of importance in the indian traditions. when a person is passed away it is believes that the soul of the person who has just passed away is on its way to the next level of existance. Starting from the day of death to the 13th day after his funeral is considerd to be a period of mourning. during this time time they are not suppose to attend religious functions, eat foods like sweets, wear new clothes or participate in cultural activities or festivals.

When a person aproaches death, a priest is contacted and the family should gether to be with that person and chant mantras. When death imment, the preparations for the funeral begins as the funeral should take place by the next dusk or dawn which ever comes first.

For the funeral the body is washed and dressed in plain white sheet. If the decesaed had a wife she should be dressed in red. Before the creamation the body is displayed in a casket and chadanam if man, tumeric if woman is applied on the forehead of the deseased. A garland of flowers is placed around the neck and the gathered people chant matras. then the body is moved to the place of cremation

it is traditional that only men attende the creamtion. the body is kept on the pyre. The family elder known as karta will circle the body 3 times anti clock wise sprinkling holy water on the pyre, and set fire fire on the pyre.

The next day the karta will returun the crematory and collect the ashes which concludes the ceremony by throwing the ashes into the river.