What are sackcloth and ashes, and how are they traditionally used in religious or mourning practices?

Sackcloth and ashes are traditional symbols of mourning or repentance in religious practices. Sackcloth is a coarse, rough fabric worn as a sign of humility and mourning, while ashes symbolize grief, repentance, and mortality. In religious or mourning practices, individuals may wear sackcloth and sprinkle ashes on their heads as a way to express sorrow, seek forgiveness, or show humility before a higher power.