Death Rites
Funeral Rituals
After the death of the person, the Phowa (transference of soul) is performed immediately. Thereafter, the body is embalmed, wrapped in plastic sheets and laid into a square coffin.The death chart is prepared by a lama indicating the specific date & time of cremation and other rituals needs to be necessarily performed. The body is kept in the house for a number of days which can vary, depending on the social standing of the deceased. The coffin is carried on two horizontal bamboo poles and taken to the cremation ground. The pyre is first lit by the Lama, followed by other villagers or non-relatives. Later at night, pujas are performed to ward off the demons from taking the soul of the dead. Unlike other communities, Bhutias do not have restrictions on consumption of meat and drinks during the mourning period and the children of the deceased too do not have to tonsure their heads. A week-long Puja is performed for the deceased person followed by lighting butter lamps. After cremation a date is set usually after three days to collect bones accompanied by some prayer recitation. Further, the post cremation ritual is also conducted till forty-nine days and after every week the ritual needs to be performed either at home or in Gonpa (monastery) followed by hoisting prayer flag.
The end of the first week is called san day; the fourteenth day chen-jichhi, the twenty-first nee shu cha chik and the forty-ninth day shib chu ser gu. Each period is marked by prayers conducted by the lamas. Lom-Cho is the first death anniversary, when the Lama once again offers prayers. Prayer flags, inscribed with Om-ma-ni-padme-hung-ri, are erected on the occasion. The entire rites are performed according to the sect followed by the deceased. A grand post cremation ritual is performed on 49th day followed by extensive offerings and prayers for the departed soul. The post cremation annual prayer is also carried out for three, eight or nine years depending on the financial condition of the family.