The dead body is washed, perfumed and wrapped in a new white cloth and decked with flowers. For ten days following death, food is not prepared at home and relatives and friends take the responsibility of getting food for the family. The food is simple, a typical meal consisting rice and sambhar or dal. Till the twelth day, a lamp is to be permanently lit in the home in memory of the departed soul and also in the hope that the departed soul will rest in peace. Maranoutthar is performed on the twelfth or the thirteenth day after death.
Food is prepared at home and a community feast.
The head of the family or the son of the departed soul gets his head shaved.