Free Memorial, Tribute & Funeral Card & Video Maker
Make a memorial video, funeral slideshow or shraddhanjali card to honour someone you have lost — free, online, with templates and condolence wording across Hindu, Sikh, Christian and Muslim traditions and several Indian languages.
How to make a memorial or tribute video
Making a memorial video on Pikaaso takes four steps: choose a template, add your photos, write the names and tribute text, and download the finished film. There is nothing to install and no editing skill needed.
- Select a template from the group of video templates.
- Upload your pics/videos in the placeholders.
- Customize the text and submit it.
- Download your memorial video.
For a photo slideshow rather than a single-clip video, select a slideshow template, upload pictures in the limited photo placeholders, customise the default text in the text fields and click submit. You will receive your edited video with download links in the next 1 hour.
How to make a memorial or shraddhanjali card
You can make a printable or shareable memorial card the same way you make a video — pick a card template, add your photo and a few words, and download it free.
Create special cards for your special one you lost. Personalize card samples for free with your quotes and pictures by selecting any template from our collection. You will receive your edited video with download links in the next 1 hour.
Card templates span many traditions and languages — a shraddhanjali tribute, a Sikh antim ardas remembrance, a Christian celebration-of-life card, and condolence designs in Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi and Tamil — so you can choose one that fits your family’s customs.
How do you write an obituary?
An obituary announces a death and tells the story of a life in about 200 to 300 words. A clear way to write one is to move through six parts in order.
- The announcement — the person’s full name, age and home town, and when they passed.
- The life story — born where and when, family, work, the milestones that mattered; a short tribute, not a full biography.
- Qualities and impact — what they were loved for, in a sentence or two.
- Survivors — those they leave behind, listed closest relation first (spouse, then children, then grandchildren, parents and siblings), and those who went before them.
- Service details — the date, time and place of the funeral, prayer meeting or memorial, and the officiant if known.
- Memorial wishes — where to send flowers or, in their place, a charity the family would like remembered.
A short example: “[Name], aged [age], of [town], passed away on [date]. He is survived by his wife [name], their children [names], and three grandchildren. A prayer meeting will be held on [date] at [place]. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to [cause].”
When are remembrance ceremonies held? Indian customs by faith and language
Across India, families mark the days after a death — and its anniversary — in ways that differ by faith, region and community. The timings below are the patterns many families follow; your own family’s elders, priest, granthi or clergy remain the right people to confirm what your tradition observes.
Hindu remembrance (North Indian / Hindi): terahvin on the 13th day
In much of North India the terahvin (also written terahvi, and known as Pind Sammelan or Sapindikarana) is held on the thirteenth day. It formally closes the main mourning period — in traditional belief the departed is helped from preta to pitr, taking their place among the ancestors. Hindi memorial designs are often titled Shraddhanjali, Shradh Karma or Shok Sandesh.
Customs vary by community and family — confirm the day with your family priest.
Hindu remembrance (Telugu): Pedda Karma
In Telugu-speaking families the closing observance is commonly called Pedda Karma (or Pedda Dinam). Different communities mark it on the eleventh, twelfth or thirteenth day — the rites between the eleventh and thirteenth days bring the main mourning period to a close. This is a regional variation of the same Hindu remembrance cycle, not a different one — only the day-count differs by tradition. Telugu memorial cards are usually titled Shraddhanjali or Pedda Karma.
The exact day differs between communities — your family elders can confirm.
The first anniversary: Barsi / Varshik Shraddh
Many Hindu families observe the first death anniversary as Barsi (also Varshik Shraddh or Abdik Shraddh), one year on, with Shraddh, Tarpan and Pind Daan offerings and a remembrance gathering. It is a day for remembering, not a date you need to book.
Naming and observance vary by region and family.
Muslim remembrance: burial soon after death; chehlum on the 40th day
In Muslim families burial usually follows soon after death — commonly within about a day — after ghusl (the ritual washing) and shrouding in a plain white kafan. Mourning is generally observed for about three days (longer for a widow). In many Indian Muslim communities a gathering is held on the fortieth day, the chehlum, often with Quran recitation and a meal shared in the person’s memory.
Practices vary between communities — your family or local imam can guide the specifics.
Sikh remembrance: Antam Sanskar and the Bhog ceremony (about ten days)
Sikh funeral rites are called Antam Sanskar (also written Antim Sanskaar); cremation is the norm, with hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib and the recitation of Waheguru. A complete reading of the scripture, the Sehaj Path, is usually timed to conclude within about ten days at the Bhog ceremony, which marks the end of mourning. Sikh tradition encourages quiet acceptance over loud grief. Sikh memorial designs are often titled Antim Ardas.
Timings can vary — your granthi or gurdwara can confirm.
Christian remembrance: funeral service and memorial days
A Christian funeral centres on a service or Mass followed by burial (some communities now also use cremation). Many Indian Christian families — in Kerala, Goa and elsewhere — also gather for memorial observances on set days, such as a seventh-day, a fortieth-day and the first anniversary, blending church practice with local custom. Designs are often titled Celebration of Life or as a Christian memorial card.
Customs differ widely between denominations and communities — your parish priest or clergy can confirm what applies.
Tamil remembrance: anjali tributes
In Tamil families, condolence and remembrance tributes are shared as anjali — kanneer anjali, a tearful farewell, and ninaivu anjali, a tribute of remembrance. These appear on memorial posters and cards honouring someone who has passed.
Wording and observance vary by family and region.
What can you say? Condolence messages and tribute wording
The kindest condolence messages are short and sincere. Name the person, say plainly that you are sorry, and — if you can — share one small memory or offer one specific thing you will do. It is best to avoid clichés such as “they are in a better place” or “at least they had a long life”, and not to dwell on how the person died.
Our hearts are filled with sadness and tears but our memories are filled with smiles and laughter of the good times we shared over the years.
The greatest comfort during our sorrow was the expressions of sympathy conveyed to us in many ways. We deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness and thank you most sincerely.
May these flowers in some small way express the sympathy and sadness we feel for you during this difficult time. With deepest sympathy.
Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know that they are happy.
While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.
Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.
Condolence wording in Indian languages
Hindi (Shok Sandesh / Shraddhanjali)
भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि — हमारी संवेदनाएँ आपके परिवार के साथ हैं।
“Bhavbhini Shraddhanjali — heartfelt tribute; our condolences are with your family.”
Telugu (Shraddhanjali / Pedda Karma)
హృదయపూర్వక నివాళి — మీ కుటుంబానికి మా ప్రగాఢ సానుభూతి.
“Hrudayapoorvaka nivali — heartfelt tribute; our deep sympathy to your family.”
Gujarati (Shraddhanjali)
ભાવભીની શ્રદ્ધાંજલિ — ઈશ્વર દિવંગત આત્માને શાંતિ આપે.
“Bhavbhini Shraddhanjali — heartfelt tribute; may God grant the departed soul peace.”
Bengali (Shraddhanjali)
আন্তরিক শ্রদ্ধাঞ্জলি — বিদেহী আত্মার শান্তি কামনা করি।
“Antarik Shraddhanjali — sincere tribute; we pray for the peace of the departed soul.”
Marathi (Bhavpurn Shraddhanjali)
भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली — दिवंगत आत्म्यास सद्गती लाभो.
“Bhavpurna Shraddhanjali — heartfelt tribute; may the departed soul attain peace.”
Tamil (Anjali)
கண்ணீர் அஞ்சலி — பிரிந்த ஆன்மா சாந்தியடைய பிரார்த்திக்கிறோம்.
“Kanneer Anjali — tearful tribute; we pray the departed soul finds peace.”
Sikh (Antim Ardas)
Waheguru ji bless the departed soul with eternal peace; our prayers are with your family in this time of loss.
Christian
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” May the peace of God be with you and your family.
What music suits a memorial video?
Soft, slow and meaningful music suits a memorial video best — most families choose gentle instrumental pieces or a song the person loved.
Mostly instrumental songs are used as background audio for memorial videos. In which inspirational audios are preferably used.
One or two pieces are usually enough for a three-to-eight-minute video. Choose music that matches the mood you want — calm and reflective rather than loud — and, where the person had a favourite hymn, bhajan or song, that can be the most fitting choice of all. If you plan to share the video publicly, check that you have the right to use the music, as many songs are copyrighted.
What should you include, and how long should it be?
A memorial video of about forty to sixty photos, with each on screen for three to five seconds, usually runs three to eight minutes — long enough to tell the story, short enough to hold everyone’s attention.
Arrange the photographs in order of the person’s life, or group them by family, friends and the moments that mattered most. Open with their name and dates, and let a few captions or a short quote carry the feeling — there is no need to label every picture. Mix close portraits with wider photos, keep the transitions gentle rather than flashy, and end on an image that feels like a fond goodbye. One or two pieces of soft music underneath will usually carry the whole film.
Frequently asked questions
How to make a memorial video?
How to make a memorial video with music? / How to make a memorial slideshow with music?
How to make a funeral video tribute? / How to make a funeral slideshow?
What does a funeral or memorial video cost?
How to make a free tribute video?
How many photos should a memorial video have, and how long should it be?
What should I write in a condolence message?
Can I make a shraddhanjali or memorial card in my language?
Remembrance customs and their timing vary by region, community and family. The days and practices above describe common traditions, not fixed rules — please confirm what applies to you with your family elders, priest, granthi or clergy.
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