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THE PEOPLE
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DEATH
Hindus
When death seems unavoidable, the relatives gather around the sick
to assure and comfort him and pray God for him. The sick person
repeats God's name. When death overcomes, to dead body is washed
and covered in a new cloth as is customary among a particular
community. The nearest relatives gather and carry the dead body to
the cremation ground.
Hindus usually cremate their dead. The bones and ashes of the dead
are collected and immersed in holy water or kept preserved and
then consigned to the river. Infants are generally buried. Some of
the backward class communities burn or burn the dead.
A number of rites are performed after the death of a person. Many
of them have lost significance with the changing times. Many
practices are now dying out and even the religious preceptors have
accepted and suggested certain changes and simplifications in the
rites. In cities and towns municipalities manage the burial and
cremation places and provide necessary services, wherever
possible. In rural communities, however, funeral rites are
observed in much the same fashion as was done formerly.
After-death rites and mourning are everywhere observed though a
little change is perceptible. The family members and the nearest
relations of the deceased observe mourning for ten days. A lamp is
kept burning on the place where the dead man breathed his last and
on the 12th and the 13th day sraddha is performed. Sraddha rite is
intended to enjoin the deceased with the forefathers. These rites
are not so strictly observed in urban communities. Svery year
sraddha is performed on the day when the person had died. Of
these, the first death anniversary is rather strictly observed.
Among some, sraddha in commemoration of the dead ancestors is
observed during the fortnight, called pitr-paks.
Among families who have come under modern influence sraddha is not
performed every year in the prescribed way. Instead, some charity
is made or prizes and scholarships are awarded in the name of the
deceased. The time honoured rites do not suit the present
conditions of life and such a change is exemplary.
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