Rocks, sea and sun, St Agnes, Scilly Islands. The function of traditional ritual. Ritual and ceremony are found in almost all the world's religions. Usually they celebrate seasons of the year, times of the agricultural cycle, transitions in human life, or days of significance in the history of nation or religion. They are usually symbolic, and follow fixed forms prescribed by tradition.
Rituals have many functions.
They cement the bonds of a society or community. They allay anxiety in a hostile universe. They provide the support of others for religious faith. But in most religions they also have more primitive and selfish goals, similar to magic. Prayer invokes the help of invisible beings.