49th day ritual after the burial of Yong Yit Lin (Images of the Past)

The consistent description from the series of photos below describes the Ritual on the forty-ninth day after the burial of Yong Yit Lin probably at Yu Shan Tung cemetery or 丰永大坟山 Fung Yun Thai (Hakka cemetery), Singapore. This is from the Elliot Collection which accessible online from the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology website. 

Looking at the photos, you can see that the tomb itself has not been erected yet -i.e. there is no headstone, shoulder, courtyard. It is still bare earth and muddy ground in the courtyard. We can only make out the bricks where the headstone is suppose to be built and behind it of course the crypt of the coffin of Mr. Yong Yit Lin. 

A group of ladies can been seen preparing the offerings of food, flowers and incense placed on a newly dug-out tomb and later setting up the paper offerings and "treasure box" for burning.  You can also make out nipah or palm leaves ( similar to the ones used in thatched roofing or attap roofing in the past) being laid out the ground to help the ladies move around without getting their shoes too muddy. Despite that you can make some of them prefer to walk bare feet as they go around their rituals. 

Preparing the food and incense offerings in front of Yong Yit Lin's tomb
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Prayers and food offerings in front of Yong Yit Lin's tomb
source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The ladies preparing the paper offerings and treasure chest for burning
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Offerings behind burnt
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Prayer and offering ceremonies over 49 days after death. 

From what i gather online, this 49-day ritual (做七) is known as “An Ling” (安灵) and “Ji Ling” (寄灵). Upon passing away, individuals enter an intermediate state of being. This transitional phase can span up to 49 days before the departed soul move on in their journey towards a new existence or another realm. This rituals serve as an aid for this and also a form of filial piety from those mourning. An Ling (安灵) pertains to the 49-day ritual conducted at home, Ji Ling (寄灵) occurs within the confines of a temple, grave or columbarium.