Holi!
An explosive and colorful farewell.
Mourning cloths and Hinduism
With nearly a billion followers worldwide, Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world. It teaches that God is in every being and object, and the purpose of life is to become aware of this divine essence. The Hindu faith originated in India, but today there are many denominations worldwide, each with slightly different customs and beliefs.
Every religion and culture has its own farewell, so we have our guide to choosing the right mourning cloth for Hinduism, and more information about the deceased rituals they follow.
The Hindu belief is centered around reincarnation; the belief that when a person dies, the soul is reborn as another form. They believe that although the physical body dies, their soul remains and continues to recycle until it settles into its true nature. This can take many lifetimes, and with each death they strive to get closer to Brahma, the Hindu god. Moreover, they believe that the next incarnation of their souls will depend on the actions of their past life, this is also called karma.
The mourning cloth
The Hindu belief is centered around reincarnation; the belief that when a person dies, the soul is reborn as another form. They believe that although the physical body dies, their soul remains and continues to recycle until it settles into its true nature. This can take many lifetimes, and with each death they strive to get closer to Brahma, the Hindu god. Moreover, they believe that the next incarnation of their souls will depend on the actions of their past life, this is also called karma.
Wash and presentation
For a real look into the world of Hinduism, we went to an ashram in Nieuwersluis, where we talked to guru Acharya. He took us into the world of life after death, the rituals and customs of the faith.
The ritual begins with the holy ablution, covering the body with ghee, honey, milk and yogurt. These elements stand for cleansing. After the holy ablution, essential oils are placed on the head, turmeric for women and sandalwood for men. When the ablution is finished and the person is surrounded with the most delicious scents, the palms of the deceased are placed in prayer position and the big toes are tied together. The deceased is often dressed in “normal” clothing, but preference is given to a full “birthday suit”. Women can also be dressed in a beautiful bright colored sari, this is also traditional clothing in India. Women are admired and treated as goddesses, suited with the fine silks and shiny satins.
The display is spectacularly decorated, the bier is decorated with white flowers and marigolds. Rice balls (also called peanuts) are made on the day of the ceremony and then placed around the deceased. Pieces of gold are placed on the mouth, nose, eyes and ears as a sign of the pure in life. In men as in women a mala can be put on as a sign of respect and good wishes in the next life.
Bringing the loved one into the temple
The departed is carried in the temple or ashram by four people at each corner of the bier, the feet come in first, on the entry of this person prayers are offered. The bar is made of natural materials; bamboo, willow or other types of wood. The deceased can be laid out in public, during which the guests can say their last goodbyes and pray.
The ceremony
Every ceremony is different with how the person died, how that goes, that is determined by the Pandit on the day of the ceremony itself.
The puja is performed, incense and candles surround the bereaved in a seductive and penetrating trans.
A Pandit performs the “mukhagni” on the cremation ground, the last ceremony before the person is cremated. When the ashes return to the family, they are scattered over a sacred body of water or a place that was important to the deceased.
Cremation and scattering
In Hindu belief there is a preference for cremation, they do this to free the soul from the body as quickly as possible. The ashes are scattered over holy water or in a place dear to that person. The axes are new building materials for new life.
Our cloths are of course suitable for both a funeral and cremation.
Did you know
– Men at death are dressed minimally, the women are goddess and the driving force, that is why women are so lavishly laid out.
– In India almost all cremations are done in the open air? In Varanasi, a holy city in India, cremations are performed every day. The ashes are then scattered in the river Ganges, they do this to end the circle of reincarnation, this circle is also called moksha.
– Holi-Phagwa is the New Year’s Eve and is celebrated with brightly colored powder? Holi is celebrated in March every year, the festival of spring. Its origin comes from India and is done to throw all castes, the social classes, connected with color from the sky with Holi. We have developed a beautiful cloth especially for this celebration to be cremated or buried in it.
– Colors are very important in Hinduism? Red stands for sensuality and purity. White is related to cleanliness, neatness, peace and knowledge. Yellow symbolizes tranquility and peace (shanti). Saffron is considered the most sacred color in Hinduism. It represents fire, wisdom, abstinence and discipline.
– Are mourning cloths made without seams in India?