In "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri, Gogol reflects on his past experiences with rituals surrounding death, especially during the time of his grandparents' passing. He recalls feeling disinterested and frustrated by the obligation to participate in a custom that seemed foreign to him and was not practiced by his peers. The rituals felt insignificant, given his limited interactions with his grandparents, as he grappled with the meaning of these traditions.

However, as time passes and Gogol faces the absence of his father, the significance of these rituals takes on a new dimension. Sitting alone at the kitchen table at six-thirty each evening, he finds some solace in the meatless meal they used to share. This meal becomes a cherished connection to his family's traditions, offering him a sense of stability and continuity in the midst of his grief. The ritual that once felt burdensome is now a grounding presence in his life.