how long is mourning period

The mourning period can greatly vary for different individuals, as it largely depends on personal and cultural factors. In many cultures, the formal mourning period can last from a few weeks to up to a year. However, individual grief and personal mourning can last much longer, and there's no 'right' or 'wrong' length of time. It's important to allow oneself to grieve for as long as needed, and seek emotional support when necessary.

Traditionally, mourning periods differ across various cultures and religions globally. For instance, Jewish customs stipulate a mourning period, called 'shiva', lasting seven days after the burial, followed by 'shloshim', which lasts until the 30th day following the funeral. However, if the deceased was a parent, 'avelut' might continue for around a year. In Hindu traditions, the formal mourning period runs for 12-13 days post which families perform ritualistic pujas. On the contrary, in Islamic culture, mourning period, known as 'Hiddad', lasts three day but widows are expected to observe an extended mourning period of four lunar months and ten days. However, the emotional aspect of mourning is a very personal process and differs from person to person, irrespective of cultural norms. It might take days, months or even years depending on how deeply the individual was associated with the deceased.