At the approach of death, relatives and Pandit are summoned, mantras and sacred texts are recited, and ceremonial gifts are prepared. After death the body is moved as soon as possible to the cremation grounds. The eldest son of the deceased and the officiating priest perform the final cremation rites. For 10 days thereafter, the mourners—the immediate family members—are considered impure and they practice particular rituals. During this period they perform rites intended to provide the soul of the deceased with a new spiritual body with which it may pass on to the next life. Ceremonies include the setting out of milk and water and the offering of rice balls. At a prescribed date, the ashes are collected and disposed of by burial or by immersion in a river. Rites honouring the dead, called shraddha, continue to be performed by the survivors at specified times.