Death Rituals of Different Cultures and Countries
Death Rituals of different Cultures/Countries
As the globe is full of numerous civilizations and cultures in a very diverse manner, similarly, their rituals, traditions and ceremonies related to life and death are also different from one another. The people belonging to these cultures have their own sets of beliefs that are witnessed through the ways they celebrate their occasions, festivals and even the death rituals However, considering the diverse cultures from all around the world, the thesis report tends to focus on two cultures for their death ceremonies and rituals: Egyptian and Hindu (Indian) civilizations.
Taking into account, the Egyptian culture, the records reveal the fact that these people have tremendously belief on their religion. Due to being so religious people, they have complicated and detailed death and burial rituals. Moreover, the populace of Egyptian civilization has complex values and beliefs pertaining to the subject of life after death. The concepts and ideology of life after death is the corner stone of their burial and death rituals. Historical evidences and records also exhibit that religion is the source of origin for Egyptian civilization, and their customs, beliefs and traditions related to life after death are the key driving force on which their funeral practices are based (Assmann, 2005).
According to beliefs and traditions of Egyptian people, eternal life is the ultimate goal of every individual and death is only a way through and not the end of the life, which the souls must experience that can help them reaching the level of the eternal life. Therefore, Egyptians conserve the dead body (through the process of mummifying) as the mandatory procedure to accomplish the eternal life. The process of mummification involves three main procedural steps (Assmann, 2005).
The tomb is the actual place where the mummies are characteristically placed. Besides, they also keep other items that are considered vital, as it would come in use for the dead individuals in the afterlife according to the beliefs of Egyptians. During the first step of mummification, the internal organs are removed except for the heart and skeleton. These organs are then placed in jars, which at later stage is placed in the tomb (Assmann, 2005).
The body is dried out in the second step by stuffing the body with a mixture of substances that absorbs the fluid within the body. The process of drying out the body is completed within forty-five days, which is then equipped to be enfolded by linen. The amulets or charms are placed in between the layers of the linen when the body is being wrapped, which is later placed in the decorated coffin. At this point, when the amulets are being placed, the priest prays for the dead person (Assmann, 2005).
At the end of this process, the body is masked and kept until the time of the funeral ceremony. However, the relatives of the dead individual are informed for the final procession where priests chant hymns during the ceremony. Lastly, the body of the dead person in placed in the casket or coffin, which is put in the tomb that ends the entire ceremony (Assmann, 2005).
Looking at the other culture, that is Indian or Hindu culture is again a very ancient civilization that has their own set of beliefs and traditions from the birth till death. Hindus also have a strong belief on the concept of life after death, which is in their holy book as well. According to their ideology, the soul moves on to the next level of his or her existence at the time of the death. The Hindu culture is based on the religion and its practices and many rites and rituals related to death is practiced with the prime intention to depart the soul in a peaceful intersect to the next level (DuBois & Beauchamp, 2007).
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