... , protect, and bless the occasions of major life transitions such as birthdays, puberty, marriage, death and new house blessing rites. It is traditional to mark these events with a ceremony involving samanas – a monastic term for ordained monks and nuns. In a ceremony for a birth, marriage, or a new house, a shrine is set up and offerings are made to the shrine, and the Sangha ... beings who recite his name. After death the body is washed and the head shaved. The funeral ceremony includes a shrine, offerings to the shrine, burning of incense and chanting by samanas. The ceremony offers...

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