Shradh – Pay Obeisance to Ancestors for their Salvation

shraddh‘Shraddh’ is a ceremony that Hindu people perform after someone’s death to pacify the departed soul and to offer water and food for the rigorous journey that the soul has to go through to reach his or her ultimate destination to the Almighty God. As per different caste and family traditions, ‘Shraddh’ is being performed on the 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 15th or 30th day after death of the person. It varies from state to state also. Who is eligible to perform the ‘Shraddh’ Ceremony? In some part of India it is restricted for the eldest son of the deceased only. If the deceased has no son, then wife/husband or unmarried daughter may perform the ‘Shraddh’. Married daughters are eligible to perform ‘Shraddh’ on the fourth day, as their ‘Gotra’ has been changed after marriage.

According to our Hindu Calendar, fifteen days fortnight of Krishna Paksha i.e., dark lunar half of Ashwin month is dedicated to perform ‘Shraddh’ for our departed ancestors. It begins with the Purnima tithi, i.e., full Moon day of Bhadrapad month and finishes on the Amavasya tithi, i.e., no Moon (or new Moon day) of Ashwin month. This fortnight is termed as ‘Pitri Paksh’ and people avoid any auspicious activities during these sixteen days. As per instructions of our ‘Shaastra’s there are different tithis exclusively dedicated for performing ‘Shraddh’ of different persons of the family.

This year ‘Shraddh’ is going to begin from 16 September 2016 and will continue till 30 September 2016. On 16 September it is Purnima tithi till 24.34 hours (which means 00.34 am of 17 September, as per English calendar) and ‘Shraddh’ can be performed for those people who died on this tithi of any month of the year. On 17 September it will be Prathama tithi till 21.34 pm and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those persons who expired on this tithi of any month of the year. On 18 September it will be Dwitiya tithi till 18.22 pm and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those people who died on Dwitiya tithi of any month of the year.

On 19 September it will be Tritiya tithi till 15.07 pm and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those persons who expired on Tritiya and Chaturthi tithi of any month of the year. On 20 September it will be Chaturthi tithi till 11.58 am and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those people who died on Panchami tithi of any month of the year. This day is also termed as ‘Bharani Shraddh’. On 21 September it will be Panchami tithi till 09.02 am and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those persons who expired on Shashthi tithi of any month of the year. On 22 September it will be Shashthi tithi till 06.28 am and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those people who died on Saptami tithi of any month of the year.

On 23 September it will be Ashtami tithi during entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those persons who expired on Ashtami tithi of any month of the year. On 24 September it will be Navami tithi entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those people who died on Navami tithi of any month of the year. Today ‘Shraddh’ can also be performed for those married ladies who died before their husband (Suhagan, in Hindi language). On 25 September it will be Dashami tithi entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those persons who expired on Dashami tithi of any month of the year. On 26 September it will be Ekadashi tithi entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those people who died on Ekadashi tithi of any month of the year. On 27 September it will be Dwadashi tithi during entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those persons who expired on Dwadashi tithi of any month of the year.

On this day ‘Shraddh’ may also be performed for saint and monk people. On 28 September it will be Trayodashi tithi entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those people who died on Trayodashi tithi of any month of the year. It is called as ‘Magha Shraddh’ also. On 29 September it will be Chaturdashi tithi during entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those persons who expired because of weapon (Shashtra), water (Jal), fire (Agni), poison (Vish), accidents (Apghaat) etc. On 30 September it will be Amavasya tithi during the entire day and ‘Shraddh’ may be performed for those people who died on Chaturdashi and Amavasya tithi of any month of the year. It is called ‘SarvPitri Shraddh’. In West Bengal, it is known as ‘Mahalaya Parvan Shraddham’.

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