Sacred ashes are put to use in various religions.

A deacon burning palm fronds from the previous Palm Sunday for Ash Wednesday

Background edit

In Christianity, on Ash Wednesday, ashes of burnt palm leaves and fronds left over from Palm Sunday, mixed with olive oil, are applied in a cross-form on the forehead of the believer as a reminder of his inevitable physical death, with the intonation: "Dust thou art, and to dust will return" from Genesis 3:19 in the Old Testament.[1]

In Hinduism, sacred ashes or Vibhuti are used to smear, anoint or mark devotees.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Adams, Dwight (22 March 2022). "Why Christians wear ashes for Ash Wednesday and give up their favorite things for Lent". El Paso Times.
  2. ^ Venkataramanan, Geetha (28 February 2019). "Making ash - the fire is lit on Sivaratri". The Hindu.