• Sunday 10th Sep 2017

Maha Bharani

In Hinduism, Shraddha ritual is an important observance. On this day, devotees worship for the souls of their dead ancestors in order to grant them liberation and peace. Shraddha puja is perform during the ‘Pitru Paksha’ (the fortnight dedicated to ancestors) during the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (the waning phase of moon) in the month of ‘Ashwin’ in the traditional Hindu calendar. Bharani Shraddha is an auspicious ritual during the Pitru Paksha at the time when the ‘Bharani’ Nakshatra exists during the ‘Aparahna Kala’. Most likely this Nakshatra prevails during the ‘Chaturthi’ (4th day) tithi or ‘Panchami’ (5th day) tithi and is referred as ‘Chauth Bharani’ and ‘Bharani Panchami’ respectively. The Shraddha ceremony of the deceased family member can also be done on Bharani asterism along with the tithi that marks the actual date of death. This liberates the soul of the dead and grants them peace in eternity. Hindu devotees generally perform the Bharani Shraddha in Kasi (Varanasi), Gaya and Rameshwaram.