In Hinduism, honouring and respecting the elders or the ancestors plays an important role in creating a bridge of divine relationship while also receiving their blessings and aiming to ensure a spiritual liberation through Shradh—a pious and sacred practice observed for the peace of their souls. This spiritual tradition has roots that trace back to ancient times when this sense or practice of expressing gratitude and solemn respect first took its ground, and since then it has been celebrated by Hindus. And this year, people are gearing up to observe this pious tradition ranging from 17 September 2024 and ending on  2 October 2024.

 

With this, you will attract the positive energy associated with Jupiter, which is responsible for strengthening the spiritual powers in your life while also increasing the chance of prosperity and success. Hence, in order to receive Jupiter’s blessings and positive energy, you will need to perform this tradition till the time you are alive while also passing the traditions on to the next generation. Hence, this is how our spiritual powers get strengthened from the involvement in this traditional yet very important Hindu observance.

 

What Is This Tradition All about?

As for its meaning, Shradh refers to 16-day traditionally pious observance in the Hindu lunar calendar that is conducted in honour of ancestors as well as for the peace of their souls. It spans over a period of 2 weeks beginning from the first day  (Pratipada) of Krishna Paksha, the waning phase of the moon during the Bhadrapada month, and ending on Amavasya, the new moon phase or complete dark period of the moon.

During this observance, various traditional practices are conducted; some of the major ones are Pind Daan (offering rice balls), donations, prayers, worships, and rituals or ceremonies aiming to bring up peace to the departed souls or those who are no more in this world. The descendants make offerings such as food, clothes, and donations to their ancestors while also seeking blessings from the departed souls as well as praying to Gods and Goddesses for the peace of those souls and requesting for their liberation from the cycle of life and death.

 

Significance of Shradh Celebration

As a matter of fact, with the celebration, what we do actually is we pay back for whatever our ancestors did for us. In other words, we repay the Pitra Rin or the debt we spiritually owe to our ancestors. Failing to do this observance, our ancestor souls will face displeasure, which ultimately and negatively impacts the lives of our future generations when it comes to prosperity and wellbeing.
With the observance of this traditional value, we foster a sense of family bonding and uphold the moral teachings and principles they had established for us. Thus, we pass the same traditional values to the upcoming generations through time.

 

What Should Not Be Done During Shradh?

This periodic ceremony is very pious and spiritual from a traditional perspective. Therefore, there are many actions that we need to avoid in order to show our profound respect for our ancestors while also praying to Gods and Goddesses for the peace of their souls.

 

• Make sure you do not perform worship with dirty hands.
• Avoid wearing impure clothes.
• Do not consume meat and non-vegetarian food.
• Stay away from any kind of intoxicant, such as alcohol; never even think about them during this period.
• Another crucial point to remember is to avoid performing any auspicious work.
• Also, never try to purchase new items when observing this period.
• And make sure you refrain from getting a haircut and do not indulge in the cutting of your nails.

 

Shradh Puja Vidhi: Procedures

In spiritual terms, this traditional ceremony represents cosmic connection because we assume when people leave this physical world, their souls reside in the metaphysical dimension. Hence, in order for the departed souls to rest in peace, we need to perform a proper and well-maintained rite with an exact set of rules prescribed in religious scriptures (properly adhered principles) in order to enhance the significance of spiritual powers in our lives.

While the following mentions are a general outline, for those looking to know the deeper and exact procedures, our acharyas are the right persons to provide guidance. During Shradh, you should keep in mind that any mistake in the ritual can upset the ancestors, so it is essential that you perform the ritual ceremony or puja with complete knowledge in order to satisfy your ancestors’ souls.

 

• First of all, one of the primary steps of Shradh happens to be Pind Daan, where offerings are made to the ancestors in the form of a sacred food ball (pind) along with other holy items.
• After that, a meal is then prepared that is meant for the ancestors; it may include grains, pulses, vegetables, chapati, and sweets to complete the items in the offerings.
• Not just the above commodities, but also various other donations are made during the Shradh observance, such as clothes, jewelry, grains, and money or items that represent wealth or monetary value.
• An earnest and sincere offering (Tarpan) is performed for the liberation of the ancestors, which includes offerings like clothes, flowers, jewelry, and other items during the ceremony.
• Finally, one of the most important phases during the event is the chanting of special mantras—essential for the peace of the ancestors’ souls.

 

Conclusion

In essence, this eventful custom is not simply a traditional celebration, but it is a solemn and profound manifestation of gratitude and thankfulness to the ancestors for their contribution to our own existence in this world.  By celebrating this occasion, we reflect that there still exists a connection between their souls and our physical form; it represents a cosmic bridge with those who left us and who now reside (live) only in our hearts. With the celebration of Shradh that starts on 17 September, 2024, and ends on 2 October, 2024, we are going to repay for whatever our ancestors provided for us while also praying to Gods and Goddesses for the peace of their souls as well as the spiritual powers in our own lives.