Indian Funeral Essay

We have brought you down the journey of taboo, stereotypes, languages and weddings in India. Now I would like to share with you how India’s culture celebrates funerals. Within this journey you will learn what is acceptable to wear to the funerals, where the funerals are held, what is done with the body after the funeral and mourning in India versus what the United States practices. You will notice there are many differences in the traditions from India to the United States when it comes to funerals. When someone in India is nearing death typically a priest would be contacted along with family members to be with the dying person. During this time the family and priest would continue to say mantras or have them recorded. Mantras are chants

The morning of the funeral, members of the family will take baths to purify themselves. In India they do not use funeral homes which is typically used for wakes in the United States and it would be rare that a funeral would be held within 24 hours in the United States. Here in many instances a wake ceremony is held and then followed the next day by a funeral typically in a church. It is not appropriate to cook in the home of the deceased the day of the funeral in India. Therefore, it is common practice that visitors would bring food such as fruit to the funeral. Within the United States it is fine to cook at the home of the deceased the date of death. However, it is also common for family and friends to supply food for the family in

During Teravih there are many rules that the family members of the deceased have to follow. They are not allowed to attend religious functions, eat certain foods, wear new clothes or participate in any cultural activity or festivities. At the end of one year, all the elderly members of the deceased person gather for the Shraad ceremony. The 3rd, 5th, 7th or 9th day after the death of the person are also important, as all relatives gather to have a meal of the deceased 's favorite foods. A small amount of the food is offered before his /her photo and later, it is ceremonially left at an abandoned place, along with a lit diya. In the United States often family will get together for a meal and drinks immediately following the funeral ceremony.

As you can see there are several differences in how funerals are observed in India and in the United States. It’s truly amazing how there are so many differences and really not too many similarities between the two areas. I hope you have all enjoyed our presentation of India and have learned a few things about India that you didn’t know