i recollect

after my parents death it was duty of my eldest brother to perform the rites for the departed

the most intriguing rite was that my eldest brother would not eat till the food prepared for dearted is eaten by the departed

he would prepare a plate of food perhaps most enjoyed by the departed parent and take the same to the roof top and call out for the departed

it would take hours perhaps

for my father his favorites were cigarette and tea and fries rice dal fish

we would wait for the report of his eating before we ate our own meal once a day

i went to the roof once to see what was happening

in the bush among the leaf a particularly dark crow larger than common crow was hiding

my brother was calling out for him ~ the cigarette was lit tea was given and he stepped away to little distance ~ cigarette was knocked away first and then tea and he touched other food material

does departed soul goes little away into dressing room and takes up the cloak  for fresh crow and flies into the neighborhood where he lived

after death according to the custom i too shall become a crow i know

yesterday i saw a particularly big crow in my neighborhood

i am a kite tied to my world by my eyesight and or memory

maya

we have similar customs for new born baby taken into fold of the family

a plate full of materials are placed before the only 6 days old child ~ a coin note paper pencil food cloth utensil cosmetic music ...

what fascinates the child

dalai lama is also recognized in the similar tradition presented with many materials along with 4 objects of daily use of previous dalai lama

assumption is memory transcends death for the reincarnate