why do hindus perform rituals for the deceased ?

yeha... that's the question.
thanks you everyone...
warm wishes...

We do it so that we can break the ties with the love one. In the funeral we dissolve the elements that make up the physical form and we do rituals that symbolize the breaking of the person's responsibility to the family and the family's responsibility to the dead person. The rituals performed after the funeral such as the offering of pinda is to ensure that the dead loved one doesn't hang around too long and that they have everything they need to make the journey to the next life. This is also a time in which the family mourns and eventually returns to state of purity. It's an opportunity to honor the deceased as well as find our place in the world again as a transformed family.

Hari Aum!

KP

[Roselove]

i was told to make sure they safetly reach the other side

same reasons elephants do.

It is a most important ritual and it has been described in the purana.

WhenJiva along with his subtle body consisting of 17 elements (i.e. 5 senses, 5 organs of action, 5 vital airs, mind and intellect ) leaves the body which is called death, and he is immediately given an airy body (transporting body) which also protects the subtle body. He is called(preta) (literally departed from and not in the physical body) because he is light and swiftly moving. Having lived for long time in the physical body he might develop a special attachment with it. This pulls him towards the physical body again and again . there fore the shraaddha rites dasagaatra etc. are recommended by the scriptures for freeing the departed from the intermediate preta state

What type of rituals are you talking about here?
They are all valid, and other cultures besides hindus have them also.
HIndu's put pictures of lost family with god's picture to show they are with god now.


Iksvakave

Originally Posted by Rosewater

i was told to make sure they safetly reach the other side

I like that.... that is a "spiritual" way of thinking.
Iksvakave