Rituals play a major role in almost all world religions and cults. Most of such rituals appear or sound odd to others but perfectly in sync with the ingrained beliefs of the particular religion/cult. Many religions have ceremonies/practices/rituals to commemorate the milestones of life like birth, transition to adulthood, marriage, death etc., likely to appear/sound unusual or strange to non-practitioners.
There is a multitude of religions but inherently intended for a common purpose in essence. This inferred non-difference across religions is that they all stand for the fulfillment of one objective with one great process or one great spiritual purpose. What is that great purpose? That great purpose is Religare- to re-bind yourself back onto that Supreme Cosmic Source of your being.
Though most of us talk of and belong to a religion, have we ever addressed our mind seriously on the word and its meaning? We simply accept a particular religion just because we have born into a family and become part of a community that believe and follow the particular faith. We also live with it because of a sense of security (very often false and made to believe) and a sense of feeling of easily meeting the needs and desires of physical existence through the particular object of worship/prayer.