Shradhaa !

Shradha is a Sanskrit word which literally means "anything done with sincerity and faith” also means "Shradha" which means unconditional reverence. Shradha is performed every year on the death anniversary of the deceased relative as per the Panchang which is basically name of the Hindu Calendar,Pitru Paksha Shradha, or Pitr Paksh Shradha, is the annual rites and rituals offered to ancestors, relatives and dead parents in the month of Ashwin in North India and during Bhadrapada in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Pitru Paksha Shradh begins on 05th September, 2009 and ends on 18th September, 2009. It is popularly believed that the Shradha performed during the Pitr Paksh Shradha fortnight is highly auspicious as it reaches the dead relatives immediately and therefore their souls attain liberation or rest in peace. The Shradha fortnight is the period when the 'pitra' ancestors from previous lifetimes are able to approach the earth planet and their descendants. This is the time that the dead feed on the energies of the living on earth. For the starter who are Pitras? Its simple and straight forward answer is that the Pitras are ancestors from our current and previous lifetimes and they are stuck in limited capability bodies receiving punishment and rectificatory karma for their earlier bad karmic activities. In these bodies they Pitras are not able to get relief from the sensory demands and conditions of the body such as hunger, thirst, heat, cold, fatigue, pain. In search of relief, they are attracted to living entities on the earth planet who are their descendants from previous and current lifetimes. Their descendants are karmic debtors to them.
• The pitrsa approach the earth once a year during Shradha through Lord Ganesha's grace to get relief from their sufferings. They feed on the willing offerings made to them by descendants--or by forcefully taking good fortune energies from their unwilling or ignorant descendants. Clearly it is in the interest of the descendants to help them, and so help themselves.
• The ancestors will feed once a day (once in 24 hours) according to their time zone. This is equivalent to every 12 months on the earth plane. This once-a-year period is recognized as the 'Shradha' period.
• The main debt we carry to the Pitras is that the Pitras have afforded us (the descendants)a body through which we can progress in our material and spiritual goals. This progress capability is absent for the Pitras in their present bodily form.

The 'ganesha-visarjan' festival of immersing deity-forms of Lord Ganesha in water at the end of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival is an acknowledgment of this event.below are dates and name of Shradhaa-

Name	Date
Mahalaya Pitr Paksh Shradha	5th September,2009
Dwitiya Shradha	6th September,2009
Thritiya Shradha	7th September,2009
Chaturthi Shradha	8th September,2009
Panchami Shradha	9th September,2009
Shasti Shradha	10th September,2009
Saptami Shradha	11Th September,2009
Ashtami Shradha	12th September,2009
Navami Shradha	13th September,2009
Dashami Shradha	14thSeptember,2009
Ekadashi Shraddha	15thSeptember,2009
Dwadashi Shradh	15th September,2009
Trayodashi Shradh	16th September,2009
Chaturdashi Shradha	17th September,2009
Mahalaya Shradha	18th September,2009

Remembering our departed near and dear once, on their death anniversary and performing the Shraadh ceremony and Anna Daan to Brahmins and the poor is an age old custom of India.Whether it is our parents or brothers or sisters or children, once in a year on the day of their departure they re-visit us. It is believed that if we also remember them and perform a pooja for their soul and give charity in their name, they bless us and depart happily. It is believed that this ceremony helps the departed soul’s progress in the journey in the other world. If they are not remembered on this day it is said that they remain unhappy and hungry for one year.
Unfortunately this important after death ceremony is one of the most neglected Hindu rituals in the present day society.
During the 1st year once death it is customary to perform the shradha every month.
After that it is performed once in an every year.
Two pundits will perform this ceremony. One of them is worshipped as the departed soul as per the prescribed rituals by washing feet applying Chandan, giving clothes and food, etc and his blessings are south. After that it is customary to do poor feeding.
The most important date to perform Shradha is the Mahalaya Shradh day. The rituals performed vary from region to region. But the essence and significance of the rituals are the same – remembering the dead parents and relatives and performing the sacred Shradha rituals so that their souls rest in peace.
The most important date to perform Shraddh is the Mahalaya Shradh day. The rituals performed vary from region to region. But the essence and significance of the rituals are the same – remembering the dead parents and relatives and performing the sacred Shraddh rituals so that their souls rest in peace.