F.A.

QSinPitrPaksha
PremNamaste,Vanakum,HareKrsna,JaiShreeKrsna,JaiShreeRaam
AllgloriestothewonderfulservantsoftheSupremeLord.
Allgloriestoone'swonderfulancestors.

Onceagainwecometoaveryauspicioustimeintheyear.Thisperiodiscalled
PitrPaksaTheauspiciousperiodforrememberingthosewhohavepassedon.
EveryyearsomuchconfusionreignontheDOSandDONTSinthisperiod.We
inourquesttomakelifeuncomplicatedforallmankinddecidedtocompilean
article on theMost Frequently AskedQuestions during Pitr Paksha. We hope
thatthisarticledoesbringsomesortofsanityinthisperiod.Duetothevolumeof
QuestionsthatwehavereceivedwearegoingtoanswertheQuestionsasbriefas
possible so that we can answer as many questions as possible. Lastly many
performprayersduetotraditionandfear.Whilewerespectourancestorsinwhat
theydidweareveryforthrightinfollowingourscriptures.IfitsnotisourVedic
sastraswejustdontfollow.Ifthisdoesoffendyoupleasedodeletethismail.As
alwayswealwayspreferquotingfromtheSrimadBhagavatamMaha Purana,
whichisthesummumbonumandthefinalverdictofallVedicshastrasandthe
GarudaPurana.
Question:WhatisthesignificanceofPitrPaksha?
Answer: Pitr(ancestors)Paksha(phaseofthemoon)orsimply Theauspicious
period for remembering those who have passed on is very important and
significantintheHinduculture.TheSanskritwordPitrembracesGodinallHis
aspects,theearliestsages,andourimmediateancestorstothethirdgeneration,
andallourdepartedfriendsandrelatives.PitrPakshasetasideasaMemorial
andthanksgivingtothedepartedsouls, who, whenonthis Earth, madesome
contributiontomakeitabetterplace.Weacknowledgeourindebtednesstoour
ancestors in this period. It is an observance accompanied by intense bhakti
(devotion)totheSupremeLord.

Question:IsthereanyproofinHinduShastrasthatPitrPaksaprayersmustbe
performedinthisperiod?
Answer:ThereismuchproofinVedicshastrasbutweshallquotejusttwo.Inthe
SrimadBhagavatam7.14.19SrilaVyasadevasaidtoNaradaMuni.Duringthe
dark fortnight of the month Ashwina [September October] one should offer
oblationstotheancestorsasfarastheycanaffordit.SecondlyAbrahmanawho
issufficientlyrichmustofferoblationstotheforefathersduringthedarkmoon
fortnightinthelatterpart ofthe monthofBhadra. Similarly, heshould offer
oblationstotherelativesoftheforefathersduringtheMahalayaceremoniesin
the month of Ashvina. (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad
Bhagavatam7:14:19.)
Question: Canweoffermeat,alcoholandcigaretteswhenweperformourPitr
Pakshaprayers.WehavebeendoingitthiswayforaslongasIcanremember
because my grandparents used to eat meat, drink alcohol and smoke. Is this
correct?
Answer:BeforeoneoffersfoodtoonesancestorsonemustofferthefoodtoLord
Vishnu which then becomes Vishnu prasad and then a portion of that food is
offeredtoone'sancestorsNowaskyourselfwoulditbecorrecttooffermeat,
cigarettesandalcoholtoLordVishnuOFCOURSENOT.Itsaverygreatsin
to offer any unsattvic foods (e.g. Meat and any type of intoxicants) to ones
ancestors.ThefollowingthreeversesareproofinVedicshastras.
ItisDharmathatintheShraddhafeastoneshouldneveroffermeatnorshould
oneeatmeat.Onlyvegetarianfoodmustbeofferedbecausemeatisobtainedby
killing.(SrimadBhagavatam7.15.7).
Vegetarianfoodpreparedwithpurebutter,milk,sugarandcurd,etc.aremost
pleasingtothePitrs(Ancestors).(MatsyaPurana17.30).
Cowsmilk,honeyandthesweetpuddingmadeofmilkandriceandsugarwith
drynutssatisfiesthePitrs(Ancestors).(MatsyaPurana17.36)
Question: Why during this period, prayers like Katha and Jhanda, weddings,
movingintoanewhouseetcareNOTperformed?
Answer: Thisisaperiodsetasideforourancestorsathanksgivingperiod.In
thisperiodoneshouldnotconsumeanymeat,alcoholandotherintoxicants.One
mustofferfoodandtarpana(wateroblations)toonesancestorsdailyduringthe
daylighthours.Oneshouldnotperformweddings,KathaandJhunda,Sacred
threadceremonies,onecannotmoveintoanewhouseandsignimportantpapers,
start a new job, start a new business venture and so forth. BUT one should
performcharity,deityworship,dailySandhya(offeringofSuryajal,etc),lighting
of your Lakshmi Lamp, japa, study of scriptures, fasting like Ekadashi, Agni
Hotra(a10secondhavanperformedatthejunctionofsunriseandsunset)andso
forth.
Question:SomeHindussaythatifyoudon'ttakeoutfoodforyourownancestors
in Pitr Paksha then one should not go to someone else's home help them to

prepareforthefoodoreventoeatthefoodpreparedbecauseyoudidntperform
yourprayersfirst.Isthisbackedbyourshastras?
Answer:Thisisafabricationandit'snotshastricbasedandthusnotfollowed
ifonegoestoapersonhouseanddontpartakeinthefoodthatisofferedtothe
Lordthenthatpersoniscommittingagraveoffensebecausehe/sheisrefusing
prasad (offered food) and we know from the Satya Narayana katha about the
kathaofKingTungadhwajaonhowhelosteverythingbyrefusingprasadoffered
tohimSotoansweryourQuestionyeswecaneat
Question:I'maworkingclasswomanandIarrivehomearoundsunsetandits
ratherdifficulttoofferthefoodbeforesunset.WhatdoIdointhiscase?
Answer:Youcanofferyourfoodtoyourancestorsanytimeinthedaylighthours.
Whichmeansthatyoucanofferthefoodinthemorningaswell.Onedoesnot
havetoprepareelaboratepreparationsratheronecanjustmakesweetricewhich
takesafewminutestoprepare.Andifthat'sdifficultthencutafewfruitsand
offerthat.
Question: Why do we perform tarpana (water oblations) in this period to our
ancestors?
Answer:ThefollowersofSanathanDharma(Hindus)expresstheirgratitudeand
devotionbyofferingoblationsofwater(Tarpana)inmemoryoftheirancestors.
Humanshavethreetypesofdebtswhentheyarebornviz.debttoLordKrsnaand
thedevas,debttotheRishisandfinallydebttoonesdepartedancestors.Trup
meanssatisfyingothers.ThewordTarpanahasbeenformedfromtherootword
Trup.OfferingwatertoLordKrsna,thedevas,theRishisandonesancestors
onesatisfiesthemimmenselyandthroughitiscalledTarpana. Theobjectiveof
performingTarpanaisthatLordKrsna,thedevas,theRishisandonesancestors
whose names are pronounced while performing Tarpana, should bestow
happinessontheperformer.
Question:IfIwereobservinganyvrat,wouldIstopitduringPitrPaksh.Fore.g.
ifIwasobservingprayersthatinvolvedfastingonSaturdayforLordShani,ora
LakshmiVratonFridaysandsoforth?
Answer: Ifonehasalreadystartedafastlikea9Saturdayfastthenonecan
continuewiththatfastbecauseithasalreadybeenstarted.Thesamegoesforone
whoisperformingaLakshmiVrat.Butrememberthatonecannotcommencea
vratorfastinPitrPaksa.
Question:CanIlightmyLakshmilampinthisperiod?
Answer:YesabsolutelyyoucanlightyourLakshmilampWhydopeopleswitch
ontheirlightsathome?Itsthesamething.Thelampistheretoremovedarkness
fromoneslife.AswellasoneisaskingMotherLakshmiforHerdivineblessings.
Question:WhathappensifababyisbornduringPitrPakshandafamilyhasnot
done their Pitr Paksh rituals yet? Do you stop the offerings because of this
Ashuchaperiod?

Answer:PitrPakshaisalsodevotionalservicetoLordVishnu.AndLordVishnu
prayersareneverstopped.Soyesthefamilycanstillofferwaterandfood.Only
the mother cannot perform any puja as such because she is still in her
confinementperiodetc.Butsheneednotworryaswhateverherhusbanddoes
halfofhisspiritualmeritsgoestoher.Butrememberexcludingthemother,the
fatherandthefamilystillcontinuewiththePitrPakshaprayers.Thisisproof
fromtheGarudaPurana.PretaKandaChapter29verses9,11&12Inimpurity
accruingfrombirth,therulesarelessstrict.Themotherispurifiedafter10days
andthefatherjustaftertakingabath.Inbirththerelativesincurnoimpurity.
Impurity attaches to parents alone. Primarily, it is the mother who becomes
impure.TheFatherispurifiedbythetouchofwateralone.InbirthordeathO
Garuda,impuritylastsonlyfor10days.
Question: Whattypeoffastdoesoneperformduringthisperiod,whatshouldI
abstainedfrom?
Answer:OneshouldabstainfromMEATandintoxicants.Itsratherstrangefor
metosaythisbecauseallhumansaresupposedtobevegetarian.Onecanhave
saltbasedfoodsinthisperiod.
Question:CurrentlyIresideinaflatsoit'snotpossibleformetoofferthewater
oranyfoodoutside.IsthereanyotherwaythatIcanobservethisfast?
Answer:Nowthissituationistime,placeandcircumstances,ifyouliveinaflat
andifyouhaveabalconythenyoucanofferthefoodonthebalcony.Ifyoudont
haveabalconythenofferthefoodandtarpanainonecorneroftheapartment
facingthesouthdirection.Youmustofferfoodtoyourancestorsforentireperiod.
Onthelastdayahavanisperformed(optional)andfoodofferedintothefirebutI
highlyrecommendperformingcharity.
Question: Mydad'ssisterinlawpassedawaylastDecemberandallthepoojas
uptothesixmonthswasperformed.Myquestionisthat,canthepunditperform
thehavan&especiallythePINDASforPitrPaksha@mymum'shouseduring
theiroffering,althoughtheoneyearceremonywasnotdoneasyet?
Answer:Yesabsolutelythatscorrect.Toperformanyshraddhapujas(likePitr
pakshapujas,6thand11monthpujas,andsoforth)ishighlyrecommendedin
thisperiod
Question:Dowehavetoobservethisfastingperiodforthefortnight?
Answer: Yes this period is not for only three days rather its a period of a
fortnight. If oneperforms it for 3 or sodays then onerather not observethis
period. Especially in South Africa many Hindus observe this very important
periodforjustafewdays.Nowthatisincorrect.Manyofferfoodafterthreedays
whentheyareperformingtheirhavan.Thatsincorrect.ShreeYamarajjireleases
ourancestorsinthisperiodforthemtoacceptfoodthathasbeenofferedtothem
bytheirdescendents.Thismemorialperiodisnotjustforthreedaysratheritsfor
afortnight.Ifaguestcomestoyourhousewillyoumakethegueststarve?Noof
coursenotthenwhyareyourancestorsnotbeingfeddaily.Rememberyoudonot

havetocook1015preparationsdailytooffertoyourancestors.Whateveryou
cookforyourselfonthatdayyoucanoffertoyourancestors.
Question:IwasadvisedthatwedonotneedtoperformPitrPakshathisyearas
wehavealreadyperformedceremoniesthisyearduetodeathinthefamily.Ido
notagreewiththisadviceandIstillwishtoperformPitrPaksa.Pleasehelp.
Answer: Theadvicegivenwasindeedincorrect.OnemustperformPitrPaksha
puja regardless of a death in family. By performing the Pitr Paksa puja the
deceasedcomesintheformaPitrinPitrPakshatohonourtheprashadandthus
verybeneficialforthedeceasedPleasedoobservethisperiod.
Question: Myfatherinlawislatebutmymotherinlawisaliveandsheisthe
headofthefamily.PreviouslywewouldallperformthePitrpakshapujaather
house,offerourtarpanaatherhouseinthemorningoftheprayer,assistinthe
preparationof sattvicfood etc and offer puja. But now my motherinlaw has
suggestedthathersonseachdotheprayerseparatelyintheirownhomes,isthis
okayconsideringthatsheistheelderinthefamilyandstillalive?
Answer: Yes she is correct. Once one leaves ones parents home and stay by
oneselfthenIwouldhumblyadvisetoperformtheirTarpanaandofferfoodat
theirownhome.
Question: CanIperformPitrPakshformyparents,eventhoughIammarried
andfollowthe"kool/Kul"(FamilyLinage)ofmyinlaws?
Answer:YesabsolutelyIevenoffertarpanaandfoodtomylatefriendsetc
themorepeopleyouoffertothemoreblessingsyoureceive.
Question:WhoobservesPitrPaksha?(Hinduism,north,southetc)?
Answer: Well all Hindus (Hindi, Tamil, Telegu, and Gujarati) etc speaking
people should be observing this important period. Its due to ignorance and
misunderstanding that it has become a prayer only for the Hindi speaking
people and this makes me very sad. We should be congregating and not
segregating.
Question:Whatisthemainfoodtobeoffered?(Someofuscooklotsandlotsof
food)
Answer:Foodmustbeoffereddailyforthefortnight.Andwhateveryoucook(of
courseonlyvegetarianfood)youcanoffer.Thereisnospecialfoodthatiscooked
butdocookwhatyourancestorslikedexcludingthemeatetc.Pleasedontcook
like 10 curries prepare a few curries but cook them well and with love and
devotion.
Question:Canfemalesofferwaterandpartakeintheprayerandeattheprayed
food?
Answer:Yesabsolutely.Prashad(offeredfood)isnotrubberstampedONLYFOR
MEN. Prashad is mercy and blessings from the Lord and is available to all
humankindregardlessoftheirsex,colourandcreed

Question:WhyweuseTil(sesameseeds),Jaw/Jau(Barleyseeds)andKushgrass
(a.k.aDarbha/koos/kusha/darbhe)?
Answer: Thisisstatedinthe GarudaPuranaPretaKhandachapter29verses
1517 SesameseedsoriginatefromMysweatandhenceholy.Asuras,Danavas
and Daityas flee from the place where gingelly (Til/Sesame) seeds are kept.
Gingellyseeds,white,blackandbrowndestroysinscommittedbythebody.One
gingellyseedofferedintheholyriteisonaparwithagiftofadrona(basin)
measure of golden gingelly seeds. Gingelly seeds offered intarpana and homa
haveaneverlastingbenefit.
Verses 1819 Darbha (kush) grass is born of My hair and the gingelly seeds
originatefromMysweat,nototherwise.
Verses20BrahmaisstationedattherootoftheDarbhagrass.Keshavais
stationedinthemiddleandknowthatShankaraisstationedatthetipofthe
Darbhagrass.Thus,thethreeDeitiesarestationedintheDarbhagrass.
Verse121Performingallriteswithconcentratedmindheshouldgivewater,rice
andbarley.
Ch15verse64Barleymeal,boiledrice,fruits,etconeshouldpartake
Question:Canwedonatesaltincharity?
Answer:ThisisstatedintheGarudaPuranaCh2verse3032Salthascomeout
fromthebodyofLordVishnu.Saltisveryeffectiveforthedestructionofsins.
GarudaPuranaCh29verse3033Saltisonparwitheverythingdivine.Ityields
everything the person wishes for himself. No dish tastes sweet without salt.
Hence, salt is the favourite with the ancestors. The gift of salt leads them to
heaven.SaltoriginatedfromthebodyofVishnu.Hence,yoginspraiseagiftof
salt.Wheneverapersonisontheirdeathbed,saltshouldbegivenasagift.It
opens the door way to heaven. Hmmmm this is rather contradictory to what
IndiansgenerallybelieveOhIcantdonatesaltallmyluckwilldisappear.Can
youseehowblindlywehavefollowedovertheyears?Sopleasefromnowbelieve
andhavefaithinthewordsofLordVishnuanddonatesaltfreely.
Question:Canweofferfoodinthefire/havankund?
Answer: Yes in the SrimadBhagavatam3.6.30 thegreatRishiMaitreyasays
AgnidevisthemouthoftheLordandiffoodisofferedintothefirethentheLord
consumesthefoodfirstandthenthatfoodbecomesprasadam,whichservesasan
antiseptictowardoffthedifficultiesofthisage(KaliYuga). Pleaseremember
thatalltheDevisandDevasincludingLordVishnueatsviathemouthofLord
Agni. The sacrifices made to Agnidev go to the devas because Agnidev is a
messengertoandfromtheotherdevas.
Question:Ifawidowhasonlydaughterscantheytakeoutthefood?
Answer: YesthatisquitefinemaleorfemalecanofferfoodandTarpana,as
longasitsoffered.Hinduism(SanathanDharma)isnotasexistreligion.
Question: If a girls parents are late and she has no brothers who does Pitr
pakshaforthem?

Answer: The girl/daughter performs the pujas. Even if she is married when
tarpana(offeringofwater)isperformedsheshouldtakeherparentsnames
Question:IsittruethatLordRaamandMotherSitaperformedShraddhapuja?
Answer: YesintheGarudaPuranaPretaKhanda10.3151thisisstated:O
Garudaji, I shall tell you how once Sita saw in the body of a brahmana the
ancestors,herfatherinlaw,grandfatherinlawandhergreatgrandfatherin
law. At the behest of his father, Rama went to the forest. When he reached
Pushkara,theholycenter,togetherwithhisconsortSitaheperformedShraddha
with the ripe fruits Sita collected from the trees. When the sun reached the
middleoftheskythesageswhohadbeeninvitedbyRamapresentedthemselves.
When Sita saw the sages she was extremely delighted. By the instructions of
Ramasheservedthemwiththefood.Then,allofasudden,shegotawayfrom
amongthebrahmanas.Coveringherselfbehindthebushesshehidherself.Then
havinglearntthatSitahadgoneallalone,Ramawasanxiousandlostinthought.
Hewonderedwhyshehadgoneawaysosoonwithoutfeastingthebrahmanas.He
thoughttohimselfMaybeshefeltshy,Ishallsearchforher.Thinkingthisway
He himself feasted the brahmanas. When the brahmanas went away Sita
returned.ThenLordRamaspoketoher:Whydidyouleavewhenthesages
cameheretotheforest.Letmeknowthereasonofyourabruptdeparturethen
addressedbytheLord,Sitastoodwithherfacecastdown.Withtearsflowing
downfromhereyesshespokethustoherLord.Lord,hear,Isawawonderhere.
Isawyourfather,infrontofthebrahmanasdressedinroyalcostume.Isawtwo
elderlyfolkdonningthesimilargarb.OnseeingyourfatherImovedawayfrom
hispresence.Attiredinbarkandhide,howcouldIservehimwithfood?How
couldIofferhimfoodinavesselofgrassinwhichevenslaveswouldnoteatfrom?
How could I,fullofperspirationanddirt,gobeforehimknowingthathehad
neverseenmebeforeinthatmiserablestate?Ifeltshyandmovedawayfromhis
presence,ORama.Thus,OGarudaIhavetoldyouhowSitasawtheancestors.
Question:DidShreeCaitanyaMahaprabhuperformShraddha(Pinda)puja?
Answer: Yes Shree Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is the embodiment of Shree
Radha and Krsna did perform shraddha puja and this is confirmed in the
CaitanyaCaritamritaAdiLilaChapter17verse8ThereaftertheLordwentto
Gaya. There He met Srila Ishvara Puri. Purport by Srila Prabhupad Shree
Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Gaya to offer respectful oblations to His
forefathers.Thisprocessiscalledpindadana.InVedicsociety,afterthedeathof
arelative,especiallyone'sfatherormother,onemustgotoGayaandthereoffer
oblationstothelotusfeetofLordVisnu.Thereforehundredsandthousandsof
mengatherinGaya daily tooffer suchoblations, or Shraddha. Followingthis
principle,LordCaitanyaMahaprabhualsowenttheretoofferpindatoHisdead
father.FortunatelyHemetIshvaraPurithere.
Question:Areweallowedtoperformourdailyofferingofjal(water)toLord
Surya(Sun)?

Answer:YES
Question:Canonecelebrateonesbirthdayinthistime?
Answer:Yesthisisfine.Ofcoursewiththeorthodoxolderfolksthiswillnotbe
kosherbuttrytoexplaintoalittlechildObabysosorryIcantcelebrateyour
birthdaybecauseitsPitrPaksha.ThischildwillgrowuptohatePitrPaksha.
Pleasepeoplewehavetomovewiththetimes.
Question:Howcertainarewethatthefoodthatweoffergoestoourancestors?
Answer:IntheGarudaPuranaPretaKhanda19.2627ShreeGarudjiasks:O
Lord Vishnu, things are gifted by the relatives at home in the favour of the
deceased.Howdotheyreachthedeceasedandwhoreceivesthem?LordVishnu
repliedOGaruda,Varunadev(thedevainchargeoftheoceans)receivesthose
giftsandhandsthemovertoMe.IgivethemtoSuryadev,andfromSuryadevthe
deceasedpersonobtainsthemsofromtheaboveverseitsquiteclearwhatever
yougiveonbehalforthefoodthatyouoffertoyouancestors,thefood/giftgoesto
thatentityinwhateverformitisin.
Question:MyinlawsaredoingthefastonlyuntilthisSunday,Iknowthatthis
iswrongandIhaveprintedouttheinformationthatyousentmeandgivenitto
them,buttheyarestilldoingitthewaytheythinkiscorrect. Canyouplease
advice?
Answer: It'srathersadwhenwehaveshastricproofandyetmanywillstillbe
stuck with their orthodox beliefs. Well this is mainly due to fear. This is the
reasonwhyIamtargetingtheyoungergenerationratherthantheolderorthodox
folks.Naturallytotheprimitivemindanysophisticatedandadvancedknowledge
wouldbeindistinguishablefromthemassesandbenaturallyscornedupon.We
havetoevolveasHindusandnotbestuckinthepastotherwisein2020theonly
Hinduwillbeinamuseum.
Question: Atmyinlawshouseafter theyoffer all thefoodto thePitrs,they
performhavanofwhichonlythemalesareallowedtopartake,isthiscorrect?
Answer:Thisisabsolutelynonsenseandnotbackedbyouramazingshastras.A
family that prays together stays together. When are we going to learn that
prayersarenotrubberstampedONLYFORMENTOPERFORM?Prayersare
meantforallhumanitytoperformregardlessofsex,colourorcreed.
Question:Duringthistime,ifitisthattimeofthemonthforusfemalesarewe
allowedornotallowedtopreparethefood,offer thewaterorparttakeinthe
prayerperformed.
Answer: Wellthisisanageoldquestion.Strictlyspeakingwhenafemalehas
hermensessheshouldnotperformalltheseprayers.Butagainwearelivingin
anagewherecircumstancesforceustodothingsthatwasnotpreviouslydone.I
surelydonthaveaproblemwithitifthecircumstancespermitit.Iwouldrather
haveafemaleinhermensesperformingthepujathanamalewhoisdrunkornot
inhissensesperformingtheseimportantprayers.

Question:Myinlawsarestillliving.MyhusbandandIareobservingPitrPaksh
withthem.Iwouldliketoknowifwemustalsoofferwaterdailyordomyinlaws
onlyofferwater?
Answer:Bothyourinlaws,yourhusbandandyourselfmustoffertarpanadaily.
Question: Istherenootherwaytodothefinalonceoffprayerforthedeparted
ancestors,insteadofdoingthisPitrPakshaprayerseveryyear?
Answer:NO.ThePitrprayersareperformedyearlyandnotonceoff.AquestionI
wouldliketoaskyou.Askyourdoctorforaonceoffinjectionthatwillnotmake
yousickagain.Iamquitecertainthereisnosuchmedicationorinjection.Yearly
wehavetovisitthedoctorforconstantmedicationsoinPitrPakshawefeedour
ancestorsinthistimeuntilnextyear.Andfinallywehavethreedebtstopayviz.
debttoLordKrsnaandthedevas,debttotheRishisandfinally debttoones
departedancestors.Itsanongoingprocess.
Question: How do we dispose of the Pitrs Prasad after it has been offered to
them?
Answer:AccordingtotheBhagavadGita,BhutaYajnaisanimportantpartof
charityandifplacedoutside (whichinthiscaseforyourPitrs.YourPitrseat
this food ethereally thro smell.) After your Pitrs eat the food it cannot be
consumedbyhumansandthusAnts,Insects,DogsandBirdsandothercreatures
enjoyeatingthisfood.SastrascallthisPanchBali(5typesofcreaturesweshould
feed). Its extremely auspicious if any life forms (Vedic sastras state there are
8,400,000speciesoflifeforms)consumethePrashad.Butifthefoodstillhasnt
beeneatenthenyoucandisposeoftheremnantsinalocalriverorifthatisabit
difficultthendigaholeinyouryardandburytheprashad.
Question:Areweallowedtovisitfamilyandfriendsduringthistime?
Answer:?YES
Question: Canafemaleperformshraddhapujas(forexamplePitrprayers,6 th
month,11monthetc)?
Answer:Thedaughter,wife,motheranddaughterinlawofthedeceasedperson
havetheauthoritytoperformShraddha.Inspiteofthis,inthecurrentera,some
who conduct the Shraddha puja deny their consent for females to perform
Shraddha.Inemergencyconditions,however,ifnooneisavailableforperforming
Shraddha, then it is better for it to be performed by females instead of not
performingitatall.ThisiscollaboratedintheGarudaPuranaPretaKhanda8.3
LordVishnurepliedtoShreeGarudji:Ifbothfamiliesaremaleless,thewomen
shouldperformtheobsequies.
***CertainexceptsaretakenfromthearticleonShraddhafromtheLakshmi
NarayanMandir***

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