Shraddha and the Ancestors

Garud asked: Lord, once a year has passed, what should a family do for its ancestors? The Lord said: Garud, perform shraddha. The word shraddha comes from shraddhā, which means faith. Whatever is done for the ancestors with faith is shraddha.

Traditionally, shraddha is performed every year on the tithi of the death. Besides this, the fifteen days after the full moon of Bhadrapad are called Pitru Paksha, when the whole family remembers all its ancestors. In these days tarpan (an offering of water mixed with sesame), pind daan and feeding of Brahmins are done.

The Puran says that ancestors who are satisfied bless their family with children, happiness, good sense and peace at home. And when a family forgets them, they return saddened. This teaches us to stay connected to our roots.

Shraddha does not need show. In the spirit of the Puran, if someone has nothing at all, they may raise their hands under the open sky, bow to their ancestors with a sincere heart and pray for their peace, and that too is shraddha. God sees the feeling, not the size of the plate.

Shraddha performed at Gaya is considered especially sacred. But in every home, on any day, remembering our elders, telling children about their goodness and completing the good work they left unfinished are also beautiful ways to honour them.