After a Maitili dies, his body is cremated. In this ritual, he worships a cow and gives it to one of his near relatives. This worship ritual supposedly helps him to cross the river and reach heaven by holding onto the cow's long tail. The Maitili are extraordinarily devoted to the laws of their faith. They are so concerned about doctrine that they would dare not tell a lie, especially when referring to their religious lives.
Witchcraft abounds and spells are often cast.
The Maitili believe that sacrifices must constantly be made in order to keep the spirits appeased. However, one Hindu sect, the Upanisads , has introduced a new religion that opposes sacrificial ceremonies. Their primary aim is to deliver individuals from their mundane lives by being absorbed in the search for truth. This type of thinking is more in line with modern Hindu attitudes. The Maitili are steeped in superstition and deception, yet consider themselves to be very intellectual.