Abstract
M. Ed.
This study investigates the various religious practices [rituals and ceremonies] performed by the Hindi Community in Lenasia during the period of grieving. The relevance of these
practices and various ways in which they [rituals and ceremonies] could be incorporated into the modern form of psychotherapy is explored. The death of a loved one makes those grieving the loss perform different rituals and cultural practices, depending on their respective religious doctrines. For many, the performance of these activities serves as a means of "releasing" the dead and allowing themselves an opportunity to begin the healing process. Whilst these rituals and ceremonies are deemed essential to the grieving families, it is very often undertaken amidst great financial and emotional strain. Yet, this 'financial burden' is very often overlooked and the compulsion to satisfy the "ancestors" is adhered to. This study examines the specific rituals and ceremonies
practiced by the Hindi Community in Lenasia with the emphasis on how educational
psychologists could incorporate some of them into the modern form of psychotherapy. In this study, the research design, process of data collection and data analysis are described
and the main themes, which emerged from the different data sources, are identified. These themes are discussed within the framework of existing psychotherapeutic models as well as cultural and religious beliefs and practices.
The findings of the study revealed that all. Hindi people perform the various rituals and
ceremonies during the period of grieving and they make use of various symbols in the
process. Of great importance was that all Hindi people did not perform the rituals and
ceremonies in exactly the same way, there was a degree of flexibility as well as
inconsistencies in the manner of performing these rituals and practices. It was also very
apparent that the Hindi community has a strong sense of spirituality and family bonds. The
guidelines which were formulated made provision for the incorporation of the various rituals and ceremonies for educational psychologists as well as other therapists subscribing to different paradigmatic perspectives.