A Guide To Buddhist Funeral Customs & Traditions In Singapore

Buddhist funeral services in Singapore are rich in tradition and focus on peaceful transitions through chanting and merit-making. The funeral wake usually last between 3 to 7 days. Wake services are held at HDB Void decks, Funeral Parlours or an Open Space Setting with cost ranging from $4,588 for basic Buddhist funeral packages. Families can also opt for premium customized & tailored setups that can be crafted according to their needs.

What is a Buddhist Funeral ?

A Buddhist Funeral is a serene and solemn ceremony focusing on honoring the deceased with a respectful send off. The ceremony focus on impermanence and guidance to the deceased towards a favorable rebirth, through chanting, offerings and merit-making.

What are the Buddhist Funeral Traditions & Customaries ?

Buddhist funeral customaries in Singapore consists of religious rites with Chinese cultural traditions. Traditions & Customaries includes:

Funeral Wake Venue - Usually at HDB void decks or Funeral Parlours

Altars Setup - Two altars are often set up : One for the Buddha (with offerings of lights, flowers, fruits) and one for the deceased (with food offerings and photos)

Monk Chanting - Monk chants sutra to guide the spirit and cleanse karma

Offerings - Food offerings (usually vegetarian), candles, incense and flowers Paper Offerings - Paper products such as paper money, paper house can be offered according to traditional customaries

Dress Code - Funeral attire for family members, modest neutral colour clothes for visitors

Mourning Period - 49 day period (Ji-Ling 寄灵) is significant with special prayers occuring every 7th day

What are the procedures to a Buddhist Funeral Service Wake in Singapore ?

Pre-Funeral practices in Buddhist Traditions

In Buddhist beliefs, it is regarded that the consciousness (or soul) lingers near the body for a period of time after death. This transitional phase is considered delicate. Family members or monks often recite prayers to guide the spirit peacefully to the next stage for 2-3 hours, while the body remains untouched. While the traditional teaching suggests a longer wait (up to 8 hours), practical considerations in Singapore's hot and humid climate, such as the need to prevent rapid decomposition, mean that many families adhere to the shorter 2-3 hours period before moving the body.

Once the 2-3 hours period has passed, the body is gently cleaned and dressed in simple plain clothing to reflect Buddhist values of simplicity and modesty.

Embalming for the deceased body to prevent decomposition until cremation or burial, while makeup applied on the deceased leaves a dignified impression of them for their loved ones.

After which, the deceased will be brought back to the place of wake (usually HDB Void deck or Funeral Parlour).

What Happens During the Buddhist Funeral Wake duration

A Buddhist Funeral Service Wake usually last between 3 to 7 days, giving family and friends time to pay their final respects and show support for the soul's peaceful transition.

Ceremonies are ofted led by Buddhist Monks who provide spiritual guidance for the deceased through prayers & chanting.

The wake begins with the resounding strike of a gong or bell, signaling the start of funeral rites. Chanting of Buddhist scriptures led by the monk, continues throughout the wake to help the soul gain merit and move forward on its journey.

A dedicated altar is set up with a photo of the deceased, candles, flowers, fruits and food offerings, drinks. Incense is burned as a symbol of purification and reverence. Joss paper products can also be offered according to customaries.

Visitors are expected to dress modestly in neutral / dark colours, bow before the altar, offer incense, and extend condolences and support to the family. It is also customary to give condolence money (Bai Jin), to help with funeral expenditures.

On the final day, a final viewing of the casket is held, offering mourners a quiet and intimate moment for farewell.

For cremation, before moving off from the wake location, the casket is respectfully sealed and carried to the hearse, accompanied by a funeral procession. Family members will follow and walk behind the hearse for a short duration before boarding the bus.

At the crematorium, the service concludes with a final monk-led chanting, a eulogy, flower offerings by loved ones and visitors. A final symbolic circling of the casket by loved ones is held for a final heartfelt farewell.

Cremation or Burial

In Singapore, cremation is the preferred and more common method for Buddhist funerals, aligning with teachings of impermanence and the release of soul from the physical body.

However, due to different needs and preference, families can still opt for Burial as a final resting place for their loved ones.

Post-Funeral Ash Management of Buddhist Funeral

After cremation, ashes are collected and placed into an urn. Common locations for urns to be stored in Singapore are as follow :

Government Columbarium - The urn is placed in a niche at a government columbarium, such as Mandai Columbarium & Choa Chu Kang Columbarium

Private Columbarium - The urn is placed in a niche at a private columbarium, such as Private Columbarium (e.g. 三清宫), Buddhist temples (e.g. 光明山) or a Siang Teng

For families who prefer not to house their loved one in a columbarium, other options such as :

Inland Ash Scattering - Ashes are scattered over soil at designated areas like the Garden of Peace at Choa Chu Kang and Garden of Serenity at Mandai

Sea Burial - Ashes are wrap in cloth or stored in biodegradable urn and lowered into the sea, representing freedom and a peaceful return to nature

Burial Services - The Burial Casket is buried into designated plot at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery using the Crypt Burial System (CBS)

Post-Funeral Practices of Buddhist Funeral

Families continue to to honour their loved ones after the funeral through memorial prayer services held on the 7th, 21st, 49th and 100th days of the loved ones passing. These services include monk-led prayers and offerings to support the deceased's spiritual journey.

Many families also practise ongoing ancestor worship at home or in temples, especially during festivals like Qing Ming and the 7th Month Hungry Ghost Festival, as a way to show lasting respect and remembrance.