Hindu

Like Buddhists, Hindus believe in reincarnation and their afterlife beliefs involve the concept of ‘Karma’, in which your actions in the present life will determine the reincarnation of your soul in the next. Moksha is the transcendent state of salvation, achieved by freeing oneself of desire and escaping the cycle of reincarnation. This is achieved by always accumulating merit and good Karma (Dilip Chirmuley Hindu Council of Australia).

Before the funeral

·         A priest is to be contacted when death is imminent. They will join the family in leading Hindu ritual chants around the dying person, and water from the sacred Ganges River is placed on their mouth (to be done straight after dying if not possible beforehand). When this happens, the person will have been placed onto a grass mat on the floor. This is done so that the person dies in contact with Mother Earth

·         Touching of the body upon death should only be done when necessary. Cremation is ideally carried out within 24 hours of passing

·         Viewings may take place but are often brief given how soon the cremation takes place and usually means that the body isn’t embalmed

·         If you’d like to send flowers to the family, it is best to do this before the funeral takes place. Food isn’t appropriate as a gift

During the service

·         The Antyeshti Sanskar (funeral service)takes place soon after the death. Having it at dawn or dusk is customary

·         A simple, open casket is present with flowers and other symbolic items placed, including basil and wooden beads. Turmeric will be placed if the deceased is female, sandalwood or ash wood for a male. Congregants will view, but never touch the body

·         Chants (mantras) will be recited by the congregation around the casket. Balls of rice are often placed around the coffin by those gathered, known as pinda

·         Dress is casual, with white being the preferred colour and women of the family will have their hair loose, not tied. Avoid black and dressing formally at a Hindu funeral

After the service

·         Attendees will then go from the cremation to bathe and change their clothes, later meeting at a house for a meal. A priest may join the meal to bless and purify the home

·         Following the wake, the body is taken away for cremation. Traditionally, the body is taken to the Ganges River in India and ritually burned. For Hindu funerals in Australia, however, it is acceptable to carry out the cremation at a regular crematorium, given the logistical challenges

·         The cremation begins a 13-day mourning period in which the family will receive visitors in their home. On the second day, the eldest male relative will collect the ashes, which, in traditional Hindu funeral ceremonies, are dispersed in the Ganges, although other rivers are acceptable if this isn’t possible for the family

·         Hindu funeral rites to assist the soul to reincarnate are carried out in the home, with a portrait of the deceased laced with a garland of flowers displayed

·         A memorial takes place a year after the passing to mark the death