section_path: Genres/Death, mourning, and funerary rites
section_name: Death, mourning, and funerary rites
paragraph_text: Death, mourning, and funerary rites
  
  Many cultures have rites associated with death and mourning, such as the last rites and wake in Christianity, shemira in Judaism, the antyesti in Hinduism, and the antam sanskar in Sikhism. These rituals often reflect deep spiritual beliefs and provide a structured way for communities to grieve and honor the deceased. In Buddhism, for example, the bardo rituals guide the soul through the stages of death and rebirth. In Islam, the Janazah prayer is an essential communal act that underscores the unity of the Muslim community in life and death. Indigenous cultures may have unique practices, such as the Australian Aboriginal smoking ceremony, intended to cleanse the spirit of the departed and ensure a safe journey to the afterlife.