Shraddha is a ritual to honor one’s ancestors through offerings and prayers.
Tarpan is the act of offering water and grains to appease departed souls.
Shraddha is usually performed during Pitru Paksha or on death anniversaries.
Performing Shraddha removes Pitru Dosha and ensures ancestral blessings.
Gaya, Prayagraj, and Haridwar are famous sites for performing these rites.
Details
Shraddha and Tarpan are sacred Vedic rituals performed to honor and offer gratitude to one’s ancestors. These rites are usually observed during the Pitru Paksha period (15 lunar days of the waning moon in Bhadrapada month) but can also be conducted on death anniversaries. Shraddha involves offering food (Pind Daan), water, and prayers with reverence, seeking peace and liberation for the souls of departed forefathers. It is believed that performing Shraddha ensures the blessings of the ancestors and removes ancestral curses (Pitru Dosha) that may be affecting one's life.
Tarpan refers to the ritual offering of water mixed with sesame seeds, barley, and kush grass to appease the souls of ancestors, sages, and deities. The act symbolizes nourishment and satisfaction to the departed souls and signifies the continuity of the family lineage. Performing these rituals with sincerity is said to bring prosperity, mental peace, and spiritual growth. The rituals are generally carried out by the male family members, especially the eldest son, at sacred rivers or holy sites like Gaya and Prayagraj.
