Shraddh Paksh to Conclude on October 10 Following Calendar Adjustments

This year's Shraddh Paksh will conclude on October 10 due to the skipping of the eighth tithi, resulting in a 15-day period that began on Saturday with the full moon tithi. Over one lakh people are expected to visit Chandod, known as the Sarvapitri Moksh Bhumi near Vadodara, to perform tarpan and pind daan rituals during these fifteen days at the Triveni Sangam, where special arrangements have been put in place.

Ritual Guidance and Auspicious Timings

Shastri Nayanbhai Joshi stated that the skipping of a tithi during Shraddh is considered auspicious, and listening to the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha during Pitru Paksh is best for the salvation of ancestors. Other recommended practices include Mahalaya Shraddha, Narayan Bali, Brahmin bhojan, and cow service. The best time for tarpan to seek peace for ancestors is during Kutupkaal, which is the eighth muhurt of the day from 12 pm to 1:30 pm. Chanting during this window helps free people from pitru dosha, and rituals performed then please the ancestors, whose faces turn towards the west during Kutupkaal.

Astronomical and Scriptural Significance

According to the Sidh Panchang, ancestor worship is prioritized in the month of Bhadrava because the moon is close to the Earth. Scriptures note that a human month equals one day and night for ancestors, with the dark fortnight as their day and the bright fortnight as their night, while the south is designated as the direction of ancestors and Chandra Lok as their dwelling place. Scriptural texts also describe Darbh, a sacred grass also known as Kush or Dabh, as originating from the hairs that fell from Lord Vishnu's body when he shook it after rescuing the Earth in his Varaha avatar. Using a Darbh ring known as Pavitri and holding Darbh is mandatory for tarpan, and Shraddha rites cannot be completed without it.

Significance of Chandod Tirth

Scriptures refer to Chandod as Sarvapitri Moksh Bhumi, making it an ideal pilgrimage site for the liberation of all living creatures, including pets. People regularly perform tarpan and pind daan at Chandod for their domestic animals such as dogs, roosters, and cats. The site features the Triveni Sangam of the Narmada, Oarsang, and Gupta Saraswati rivers, where rituals like Narayan Bali and Tripindi Shraddha are conducted for animals.