A Buddhist funeral contains elaborate last rites performed according to sacred customs and traditions. The rituals carried out during the Buddhist funeral are believed to set the person’s soul free from the chains of life and let it find a transformed and elevated life after death where it gets closer to enlightenment.

The Buddhist funeral services which conclude with cremation in most cases, are done by Buddhist monks with the help of the bereaved family. The dormant positive energies are freed from the soul by the chanting of the correct sutras by monks who read from the holy scriptures. To avoid any decay in case of delayed cremation, the deceased’s body is prepared carefully while the chanting is going on. Once the body is washed, it is put along with candlesticks, bouquets and incense in a coffin along with a photograph 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 delayed to wait for the visitors from distant places.

On the day of the funeral, Buddhist monks perform the last rites and their head monk gives a brief speech in honour of the dead person highlighting his contributions in life and comforting the aggrieved relatives that death is destiny. During the last stage of religious chanting and service, the casket is wrapped in white cloth and a ritual of passing on blessings and good energies to the deceased’s soul, known as ‘Pansakula’ is done.

Prior to cremation, a member of the family or a near and dear one is asked to make a brief speech about the deceased person. The Buddhist funeral ceremonies end with a light feast for the attendees immediately after the funeral.

Although some modifications in rituals can be seen, these are the broad ritualistic procedures followed during funeral service by followers in Thailand, Tibet, China and many other countries, where a large number of Buddhists reside.

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