Home and Away fans praise "beautiful" smoking ceremony scene after tragic death
"I’ve been waiting my whole life to see an episode that delivers indigenous culture to the viewers."
Home and Away fans were left bowled over by the "beautiful" smoking ceremony in the wake of Stevie Marlow's death.
Stevie died following a shocking shooting in Summer Bay after dangerous stalker Sidney Wickham targeted her.
After being released from prison, he travelled to the set of her new film and shot her, eventually leading to her death after she was rushed to hospital.
Her loved ones have been struggling in the wake of her passing, with Mali Hudson mentioning he does not want to visit the beach until Stevie's spirit has passed on.
Related: Home and Away confirms Tane Parata's fate in court storyline
Mali, the soap's first Aboriginal Australian regular character, sought permission from an Elder to perform a smoking ceremony, which aired in Australia on Tuesday (June 4).
A smoking ceremony is an ancient custom among some Aboriginal Australians and is performed during key moments in a person's life, including birth, initiation rites, and death.
The ceremony involves burning native plants to create a herbal smoke, which is believed to have spiritual and physical cleansing properties and can also ward off bad spirits.
At death, a smoking ceremony takes place in the deceased person's space to help move their spirit into the afterlife and cleanse the location.
Home and Away posted a clip of Mali's emotional ceremony on Instagram, with fans flocking to praise the show for its representation of Aboriginal culture.
One user wrote: "I'm a 43-year-old Indigenous woman who has watched this show since the very first episode and I’ve been waiting my whole life to see an episode that delivers indigenous culture to the viewers."
Another added: "Wow this got me! I just love these beautiful traditions. Some of the most gorgeous scenes in H&A have been when the Paratas are practicing their Māori rituals."
Many expressed they were "so happy" to see Aboriginal representation in the soap, while others applauded Kyle Shilling's portrayal of Mali.
Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5, with repeat screenings at 6pm on 5STAR and first look screenings at 6.30pm on 5STAR. Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.
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