Different religions and different traditions have their own set of last rites or rituals to be performed during the ultimate journey of a human being. Hinduism also states in its Rig Veda the major rituals should be performed before the soul sets out on its journey, free from desires and karma. Most traditions cremate the dead bodies and in many traditions the body is buried in the earth with the view that the body be consumed by the five elements of nature. The actual last rites begin when the dead body is bathed and laid either on a wooden plank or just on the bare floor. Lamps and incense sticks are lit by the head of the body and bhajans and prayers are performed. The Brahmin priest then performs pujas to all the ancestors and he prepares Pindas, which are considered as food to satisfy the ancestors. Then these Pindas or rice balls are dissolved in flowing water. Holy water from the Ganga is sprinkled in order to give moksha to the soul, freeing it from the mortal cycle of birth and death.

The siblings or family members then perform pujas by offering things which the dead person used to like during his life and prays for his soul to rest in peace. In Christianity and Buddhism the dead body is kept for a few days for they believe that the soul will take three days to accept the fact that it is dead. But in Hindu tradition the dead is cremated mostly within 24 hours. For Hindus dying on the banks of river Ganga is the most sacred death wherein one is immediately freed from birth and death cycle and granted Moksha.

While cremating generally the first son does all the rituals and sets the fire on the pyre. Once the body is cremated the ashes are collected and are set aside for year end ceremony or until they go to Kashi(Varanasi) to disperse it in the river Ganga. Buddhists immediately disperses the ashes in any river nearby. After 10 days the Brahmin priest conducts a special ceremony wherein he invokes all gods and goddesses in the name of the dead and offers wide variety of food to the departed. Almost all near and dear relatives and friends attend this ceremony and after this the bond of the soul is untied and the family members can return to their normal lives. After this yearly rituals are also done wherein again the ancestors are called for and satisfied, generally this yearly ceremony ends by feeding the poor.