Why does Mahmut empty a bottle of liquid upon returning home? In episode 4 of Shoukoku no Altair, Mahmut travels to the village of Tughril, his hometown. After disembarking from the wagon on which he arrived, he empties a bottle of liquid onto the earth (in a rather showy manner) and then kneels down, seemingly to pray or to mourn.



Why did he do that? This gesture appears to be portrayed as having some kind of ritual significance, but I don't know what to make of it.
I haven't seen the series, but it sounds like a libation, or ritual pouring of liquid.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libation . It is an ancient practice of many cultures, usually as an offering to a god or in remembrance of those who have passed on. If the series takes part in Japan, it may specifically be a Shinto or Buddhist practice, but if in an anonymous fantasy world, they probably generalized the custom.  What you describe certainly fits with what the article states.