Buddhist funeral rituals and traditional ceremonies are replete with religious importance for Buddhists. The funeral ceremony, according to Buddhism, signifies the setting free of the deceased person’s soul, which was trapped in the mundane world of existence, and its quest for a new life thereafter.

In a typical Buddhist funeral, the body of the departed is cremated and monks in the presence of the bereaved family carry out the last rites. The underlying positive energies are freed from the soul by the chanting of the correct sutras by Buddhist monks who read from the religious books. To prevent any decay in case of a late cremation, the mortal remains are prepared carefully while the religious chanting is being performed. The body is washed and laid to rest in a casket along with incense sticks, candles, flowers and a photo of the deceased person.

The Abhidharma, a holy Buddhist scripture is read daily by visiting Buddhist monks during the funeral days even when the cremation is deferred to accommodate the visitors from far away places.

On the occasion of the funeral, Buddhist monks perform the last rites and their head monk delivers a short speech in tribute to the dead person highlighting his contributions in life and comforting the bereaved family that death is destiny. Other rites like wrapping a white cloth around the coffin during the religious incantation and Pansakula, a custom of passing on virtues and blessings to the departed soul are also performed.

Prior to the cremation, one of the family members or the nearest kin has to say something about the deceased person. After the cremation, a special meal is arranged for the people assembled at the funeral.

Some differences in the specific rituals may be found in various cultures, but these are the important rituals followed during a Buddhist funeral in many countries like China, Thailand, and Tibet by the followers of the religion.

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