So what is a funeral exactly? What is the most common image that comes to mind? This mental image comes from many sources: the geographical place, culture and society in which we live; our faith; our life experience.
No matter where it's held, a funeral is a structured ceremony, with a beginning, middle and end. Each is intended to engage the living participants in activities which will transform their status within the community, provide mourners with a collective grieving experience, and celebrate a life lived. It's a socially-acceptable way for members of a community to re-affirm and express their social attachments. What are funeral rites? Anthropologists label funeral rites and a funeral as a rite of passage, which affects everyone involved—including the deceased.
His or her social status changes dramatically, from a living contributing member of the community to one whose contributions are in the past, and relegated to memory. But the status of each of the survivors— the immediate family most especially— has also changed. Like living, dying is a natural and unavoidable process. We North Americans tend not to acknowledge this. Thus the funeral helps us search for meaning in the life and death of the person who died as well as in our own lives and impending deaths.
Each funeral we attend serves as a sort of dress rehearsal for our own. Funerals are a way in which we as individuals and as a community convey our beliefs and values about life and death. The very fact of a funeral demonstrates that death is important to us.
For the living to go on living as fully and as healthily as possible, this is as it should be. As we have said, funerals are a public means of expressing our beliefs and feelings about the death of someone loved.
In fact, funerals are the public venue for offering support to others and being supported in grief, both at the time of the funeral and into the future. Funerals let us physically demonstrate our support, too. Again, words are inadequate so we nonverbally demonstrate our support.
This physical show of support is one of the most important healing aspects of meaningful funeral ceremonies. Finally, and most simply, funerals serve as the central gathering place for mourners. When we care about someone who died or his family members, we attend the funeral if at all possible.
Our physical presence is our most important show of support for the living. By attending the funeral we let everyone else there know that they are not alone in their grief.
My Account Calendar 0 Items. Why Is the Funeral Ritual Important? How the authentic funeral helps meet the six reconciliation needs of mourning Mourning need 1: Acknowledge the reality of the death When someone loved dies, we must openly acknowledge the reality and the finality of the death if we are to move forward with our grief.
Mourning need 3: Remember the person who died To heal in grief, we must shift our relationship with the person who died from one of physical presence to one of memory. Mourning need 4: Develop a new self-identity Another primary reconciliation need of mourning is the development of a new self-identity.
Mourning need 6: Receive ongoing support from others As we have said, funerals are a public means of expressing our beliefs and feelings about the death of someone loved. No head covering is required for either sex and open-toe shoes are also acceptable. Women should dress conservatively, covering their arms and knees.
It is not common to bring gifts or flowers to the funeral, instead, they should be given to the family ahead of the ceremony. Food is also not part of Hindu custom. Traditionally, the Hindu mourning period ranges from 10 to 30 days. Throughout this time, families may display a picture of their loved one, adorned with a garland of flowers, somewhere in their house. Visitors are also welcome during this period. Additionally, on the first anniversary of the death, the family host a memorial event that honours the life of their loved one.
Read the article. When someone passes away in the UK, the process of repatriating someone to another country can be a complicated task for anyone to deal with. Skip to content.
Hindu Funerals. This is our guide to Hindu funerals and the death rituals that they follow. Hindu beliefs about death The Hindu faith is centred around reincarnation; the belief that when someone dies, the soul is reborn as a different form. Why do Hindus cremate? What are Hindu funeral rites? What happens at a Hindu funeral? The casket is carried into the crematorium, feet first, while mourners recite prayers. An open casket displays the deceased, and guests are expected to view the body.
This should be done respectfully and without touching the person who has died. Traditionally, the mukhagni is only attended by men, however, modern Hindu funerals allow women to attend.
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