Around 250 to 300 devotees participated in the rituals, blending age-old Sanatan traditions with modern technology. Varanasi: Thousands of miles may separate devotees from their ancestral land, but faith has found a way to bridge the distance. During Pitru Paksha , devotees from Mauritius, Italy, England, France, South Africa, Thailand and other countries connected with Kashi through Zoom to perform ancestral rites, with Swami Arunanand Giri of the Niranjani Akhara carrying out pind daan and tarpan on their behalf along the banks of the Ganga.
Around 250 to 300 devotees participated in the puja, according to him. Nearly 250 joined from Mauritius, about 50 from Milan in Italy and around 20 from England. The ceremonies have already been performed in Haridwar, Prayagraj and Kashi, and will be held in Gaya Ji on Oct 8 and 9. Swami Arunanand Giri, who has been living in Mauritius for the past 15 years, said the programme holds special significance for Mauritian families. Nearly 200 years ago, the ancestors of many families were taken from India to Mauritius to work in sugarcane farming.
Because of work, distance and other responsibilities, over generations, their descendants retained a deep emotional attachment to India, but many could not visit.
their representative in Kashi performed the rituals according to traditional Hindu rites While devotees joined from their homes. Swami Arunanand Giri, who arrived in Kashi from Mauritius, said many Sanatan devotees living abroad are unable to travel to India for pitru karma. Swami Arunanand Giri said the rituals were conducted according to scriptural procedures. This, he said, preserved the personal faith and emotional connection each devotee shared with the ritual. He said several such families had requested him to represent them and perform tarpan for their ancestors in India. A qualified Brahmin or a needy person is then served sattvik food with devotion, along with clothes and dakshina according to one’s capacity. Swami Arunanand Giri said online platforms have made it easier for devotees living abroad to participate in religious rituals in Kashi.
The sankalp was taken virtually, with participants personally reciting their names, gotra and the names of their departed ancestors. To help them remain connected with scriptural traditions, they were informed about the religious significance of ancestral rites and linked to Kashi through online platforms. Devotees from France, South Africa, Durban, Thailand and other places also took part. Since it is difficult for priests to remember the names of ancestors of a large number of devotees, participants were asked to personally recite their ancestors’ names during the sankalp. Following the sankalp, the representative in Kashi performed pind daan and tarpan in the waters of the Ganga. The rituals formed part of a larger programme being conducted at four major pilgrimage sites. The campaign for the programme began around six months ago, during which devotees abroad were informed about the importance of pitru karma and the sacred places associated with it. In Hindu tradition, Haridwar, Prayagraj, Kashi and Gaya hold special significance for rituals dedicated to ancestors. During Pitru Paksha, shraddh and tarpan are traditionally performed on the lunar date on which a family member passed away. If the date of death is unknown, the rites are performed on Sarvapitri Amavasya. The ritual process includes bathing, wearing clean clothes and facing south before offering tarpan. Water is taken in a copper or brass vessel and mixed with Gangajal, raw milk, black sesame seeds, akshat, barley and white flowers. After wearing a ring made of kusha grass, devotees offer water while remembering their gotra and ancestors. After pitru tarpan, the tradition of panchbali is also observed. Five portions of food are set aside for a cow, dog, crow, deities and ants. Even from distant countries, devotees can take sankalp, remember their ancestors and remain connected with the Ganga and Sanatan traditions. The participation of devotees from Mauritius, Italy, England, France, South Africa and Thailand reflected the enduring connection of overseas Sanatan followers with their ancestral roots. For many families living abroad, the online pitru karma offered an opportunity to honour their lineage, reconnect with their heritage and pray for the peace and liberation of their ancestors.
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