Hindus in Kerala observed Monday as the day for ancestors. The Amavasya day in the month of Karkidaka (the last month of the year as per Kerala’s almanac) is dedicated to the departed souls of the family.
Those who are alive perform ‘Bali Tharpanam’ (offering to the souls) under the guidance of priests. The Bali or Shraddham is usually performed on the banks of the major rivers in the State or on some selected spots along the sea shore. But this year the lock down and related prohibitory orders resulted in Shraddham being performed in the front yard of the houses itself.
Those offering the Shraddham should observe abstinence from non-vegetarian foods, drinks, smoking at least 24 hours before the ritual. The Tharppanam was done by 7 am under the watchful eyes of the priest. Rice is boiled ant it is made into balls with coconut, ghee, curd, milk and offered on plantain leaves to the souls with prayers for the prosperity of the progenies. The ritual is also known as tilahomam or pitru bali.
The significance of the age old tradition which finds mention in Ramayana and Maha Bharat is the belief that a day of the departed soul is equivalent to 365 earthly days. “The Tharppanam is like offering food to the dear departed souls and this brings us blessings and prosperity,” said noted physicist Dr M G Gireeshan, an Indologist.
The highlight of this year’s Bali Tharppanam was movie maker and writer Ali Akbar releasing the photographs of rituals performed by him for his ancestors. Akbar was guided by a priest and the Tharpanam was done at his house in Malabar. “It is a way of saying thanks to our ancestors. And please remember that they had no religion or caste. Today was a day to reminiscence about my great grandfathers and great grandmothers about whom we do not have any idea. I believe in the tradition of Vande Guru Parampara,” Akbar told The Pioneer.