Death rites
Death rites vary from family to family and also according to which type of Hindu tradition is followed. The region of India a family comes from will also have an impact on what happens when a Hindu dies. In some communities, relatives wash their body and clothe it in white garments. They may put a few drops of water from the river GangesThe most holy river for most Hindus. into the mouth of the deceased to help purifyTo make ritually clean. them.
In India, relatives may carry the corpse on a stretcher to the funeral pyreA pile of wood on which a corpse is burned as part of a funeral ceremony for some traditions, as in India. that is near a river before the next sunrise or sunset and traditionally, the eldest son lights the funeral pyre. In the UK, many Hindu families have the body crematedBurned. This refers to disposal of a dead body by burning it rather than burying it. as soon as reasonably possible at a crematoriumA specially designed building with different sections for funeral ceremonies and the burning of bodies..
During the funeral ceremony, the priest and the mourners may recite verses from scriptureA piece of writing that has religious significance. and mantraA sacred (holy) prayer or word which often is chanted or sung rather than just spoken.. Many Hindus would say they are grieving for the person they knew, not the atmanThe essence of a being. Can refer to body, mind or soul, depending on context, but usually indicates the soul that is reborn., which they believe will be reincarnatedThe belief that the soul comes back to life in another body after death..
Shraddha
After the death of a loved one, some Hindus perform Shraddha. Offerings are made to family gods and goddesses to help the atman of the deceased to move on. Some Hindus believe the atman remains around loved ones while they grieve, so Shraddha symbolises an end to mourning. Some Hindus give gifts in charity on behalf of the departed loved one.