Shraadh... and their importance

In India, Shraadhs are celebrated as a 'day of remembrance' of the ancestors. During Shraadhs people pay homage to their ancestors (known as Pitras) and express their gratitude towards them for having them in their life and making them responsible & what they are now. It is a way of expressing that they are still a part of their life. It is performed on the death anniversary or the day they died. 'Shraadh' is a Sanskrit word, which means an 'act performed with all the sincerity and faith'. On this day, people invite Brahmans to their home, serve them food/ pinda, and dakshina (fees) when they are about to leave. In some places crows are believed to be the ancestors, therefore pinda-daan is done to them, i.e. food is given to the crows. The period when Shraadhs are performed is called the 'Pitru Paksh'. The last day of the Shraadh is known as the 'Sarva Pitru Amavasya Shraadh' because on this day one can perform Shraadh of anyone.

It is very important to understand the meaning of this ritual because only then it means something and the reason for which it is being done is satisfied, otherwise it is just an act being done just for the sake of being done.