Has Christianity Lessened the Gap between the Rich and the Poor in Funeral Practices? A Study of the Lai Culture

This paper explores the unique funeral practices of the Lai tribes residing in the southernmost region of Mizoram, northeastern India. The study focuses on the distinct funeral traditions of the Lai people and examines the transformative impact of Christianity on these customs and Lai culture as a whole. The findings suggest that Christianity has, to some extent, reduced the socio-economic divide, as the Church now oversees funeral practices that are uniform for all community members. However, the study highlights that, despite this shift, wealthier families tend to have a larger number of mourners attending the funeral services compared to those from poorer backgrounds. Therefore, the study concludes that Christianity has not totally done away with social stratification pertaining to funeral rites and practices.