Kathmandu. Sixteen Shraddhas i.e. Pitru Paksha, which starts from Ashwin Krishna Pratipada every year, is formally starting from today.

According to the calendar approved by the Nepal Panchang Jury Development Committee, pratipada tithi shradh should be performed today on the beginning day. Committee member and theologian Prof Dr Devmani Bhattarai told RSS that the pind daan of Pratipada Tithi Shradh should be done by noon.

On the sixteen dates from Ashwin Krishna Pratipada to Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, tarpan, sidadan and pinddan are performed with respect to the departed father. This time is also known as Upper, Ghost Side, etc.

According to vedic Sanatan Hindu classical tradition, sohra shraddha is performed according to vedic Sanatan Hindu classical tradition, which remembers the father with reverence and devotion before performing festivals, yagyasagadi and big works. There is a classical belief that during this time, the father is hopeful.

There is a religious belief that by performing Sohra Shraddha in this way, one fulfills one’s sense of responsibility towards the father and gets rid of the father’s debt. According to theologian Prof Toyaraj Nepal, shradh is performed on the basis of the classical saying that there is an unforgivable defect in not performing Shradh in this aspect. He also said that there is a classical saying that Sohra Shraddha should be done in the afternoon. Theologian Nepal said that sixteen shraddhas should not be left except when the mother, dead and wife is menstruating.

Many options have been given in the scriptures when sixteen shradh is stopped due to reasons. There is a law that the doer of sixteen shradh should perform on the date of his father. According to the theologian, there is a classical saying that if the emergency is stuck for any reason, it should be done from Ashwin Krishna Aunsi to Ashwin Shukla Panchami.

Even at this time, if sixteen Shraddhas cannot be performed due to reasons, then it can be done on the day of Kartik Krishna Aunsi i.e. Lakshmi Puja. According to the classical scripture Dharmasindhu, if it is not possible to do it even on Kartik Krishna Aunsi, then it can be done till Scorpio Sankranti i.e. November.

Committee member Prof Dr Bhattarai, who is also the head of the Department of Theology at Nepal Sanskrit University Valmiki Vidyapeeth, said that the classical option of performing SohraShraddha, which is stopped on any date of Ashtami, Dwadashi and Aunsi, Bharani Nakshatra and Vyatipat Yoga after Ashwin Shukla Panchami, has also been given in the scriptures of Theology, including The Decision Sindhu, Dharmasindhu.

Even after that, if you cannot do Sohra Shraddha, then those who cannot chant 108 mantras daily through Brahmins are the classical option, he said. This chant should be done for 10 months. There is a religious belief that the father will get satisfaction through this method.

Committee chair Prof Shambhu Prasad Dhakal said that it was not scriptural as it was learnt that some priests used to perform shradh in the morning according to their convenience.

Durga Paksha i.e. Bada Dashain begins with the end of Pitru Paksha. According to the Scriptures, sixteen shradhs are performed for father’s satisfaction before celebrating Bada Dashain. There has been a Vedic sanatani tradition of performing the act of paternal gratification before celebrating big festivals or festivals.