The Hindu Funeral Procession

Bassically, Hindus believe that life and death are part of the samsara, or rebirth. The ultimate goal for many Hindus is to become free thereby escaping this world and attaining moksha, the transcendent state of salvation. Once moksha is attained, the soul will be absorbed into Brahman, the divine force and ultimate reality which is actually a strong belief that says there is life after death and we come to the planet earth only to suffer. 

When a Hindu is nearing death, a priest should be contacted and the priest and the family should gather to be with the dying person. Those who are present should chant mantras or play a recording of mantras being chanted. When the person dies, the body should, if possible, be transferred to a grass mat on the floor. 

A small amount of water from the Ganges River should be placed in the dying person’s mouth and a leaf of tulsi with cotton balls covering the nostrils and the ear holes of the decreased. If this is not possible before death, then these actions should take place immediately following the death.

One has to prepare for the funeral immediately. The funeral should take place as soon as possible—traditionally, by the next dusk or dawn, whichever occurs first. A priest should be brought followed by the pooja and mantras.
The hindu person who is no more can donate his/her organs if he/she wishes to before death. there is no such laws for a hindu which prohibits donation of organs. While preparing the body,for the cremation the family members,close friends and relatives wash the body thoroughly and dress him/her in a traditional attire  which is termed as a holy bath,followed by close friends, neighbours,relatives of the decreased coming over and offering the dead body flowers and garlands biding them a goodbye forever.

The family members of the decreased offers a  cuisine which the dead person loved to all the guests who visit. If the person who died was a married woman who died before her husband, she should be dressed in red.

Hindus generally hold a brief period before cremation. The body should be displayed in a simple, inexpensive casket. “Vibuti” (ash) or “chandanam” (sandalwood) should be applied to the forehead of a man, and turmeric should be applied to the forehead of a woman. A garland of flowers should be placed around the neck, and holy basil should be placed in the casket. During the wake, family and friends gather around the casket and may recite hymns or mantras. At the end of the wake, before the body is removed for cremation, many Hindus place “pinda” (rice balls) near the casket. At the end of the wake, the casket is removed feet-first and brought to the place of cremation.

Traditionally all Hindus are cremated except for babies, saints and children. Upon returning home, all family members have to bathe and change into fresh clothes.The priest comes over and sprays holy water all over the house .

The cremation of the deceased marks the beginning of the mourning period, which lasts for 13 days. During this time, the family of the deceased stay at home and they receive visitors, though mourning rituals may differ depending on the community. A photograph of the deceased may be prominently displayed, and a garland of flowers may be placed on the photograph. Throughout the mourning period, the rite of “preta-karma” will be performed, which assists the disembodied spirit of the deceased to obtain a new body for reincarnation. Thus concluding the Hindu funeral.