Shraadh-Homage To Our Dear Departed

I can recall vividly how the month of September used to feel when the sun shone more fiercely than ever before and the humid heat in the waning summer days beckoning the change in weather wore the solemn aura. I didn't really know the substance then but the pitri paksh ie shraadh days would witness our father,  a staunch Arya samaji wear the white sacred thread (janeu) perform the rituals of tarpan with all reverence as guided by the Panditji and he would climb the brick stairs to feed the crows which were like messengers from the pitr lok accepting food on their behalf. He would ask Panditji whether his father and mother 

whom he had lost when he was very young, would receive the food and he was assured in the affirmative by Panditji. We lost him during month of September only and I used to wonder who would now do what he used to with such reverence!! 

Till my mother was alive she would never impose anything on us but we gradually assimilated this reverence for the ancestors and helped in whatever way we could to religiously perform the shraadh. It was like sudden feel of having grown up when we lost our mother and shraadh have become the days to connect to her and Pitaji and our deceased sisters and grand parents ever since. 

Shraadh period is not just for performing the rituals as per Hindu dharma but its the period to root us, enable us stay grounded, stay connected with the dear departed that were and continue to be part of us and our lives. They say it's the period to pay homage and gratitude to our ancestors and through charity and Brahman bhoj, pay the pitri run, the debt we owe to our ancestors for what we are and how they enabled us become what we are. 

The duration of sixteen days of pitri paksh 2020 which ends today with the new moon (amavasya) and on this day sarv pitri shraadh is performed ie to all our maternal, paternal ancestors and the ones who adorned our lives with their presence and affection-including even those whose names we might not know or remember. 

Gone are the days when performing the last rites or pind daan was the sole prerogative of the sons. We, the daughters so it as religiously and respectfully the requisite with sincere hope that our love and rverence reaches them  whom we no more can see. 

This year shraadh were different as even the Panditji expected only dry ration and no halwa,kheer and food due to Corona. 

It felt good that today Panditji accepted regular food and performed the rituals for all ancestors. Actually shraadh are not to be connected with any apprehension if- I- don't- then-what etc. The duration is meant to sincerely thank our revered family members who are no more there with us and seek their blessings for our well being. It is believed that they do descend during these days to this our lok and make their presence felt in our dreams or whatever. I feel they are always blessing us, seeing us from above or wherever they are and that it's expected of us only during this period (atleast) to remember them respectfully and pay our tribute to them.

Sometimes I wonder whether the coming generations would have faith in the pious tithis  and religious rituals. But this apprehension must have been felt by our ancestors too. The world goes on, Time does not stop, the ways and means may change to pay respect but the loved ones would continue to be connected through the chords of heart and memory. The crows have literally gone extinct like pigeon and sparrow families. But the connection is alive and more intense during these special days of pitri paksh.