The tribe usually bury the dead, and on the third day they place on
the grave some uncooked rice and a lighted lamp. As soon as an insect
flies to the lamp they catch it, and placing it in a cake of flour
carry this to a stream, where it is worshipped with an offering of
coloured rice. It is then thrust into the sand or mud in the bed of
the stream with a grass broom. This ceremony is called Kharpani or
'Grass and Water,' and appears to be a method of disposing of the
dead man's spirit. It is not performed at all for young children,
while, on the other hand, in the case of respected elders a second
ceremony is carried out of the same nature, being known as Badapani or
'Great Water.' On this occasion the _jiva_ or soul is worshipped with
greater pomp. Except in the case of wicked souls, who are supposed
to become malignant ghosts, the Binjhwars do not seem to have any
definite belief in a future life. They say, '_Je maris te saris_,'
or 'That which is dead is rotten and gone.'