During Pitr Paksha 2026, if you invite Brahmins home for a meal, it is also necessary to provide water along with the food. The traditions of Sharadadh, Tarpan, Pinda Dana, and offering food are performed to express reverence for ancestors. In this process, water plays a special role in these rituals. In addition to offering food or other items in memory of the deceased, performing tarpan, which means offering water, is extremely important to nourish the ancestors and express gratitude to them.
People often invite Brahmins and feed them in honor of their ancestors, but they overlook the tradition of offering water. During the Sharadadh ritual, water must be provided along with the food. When performing tarpan, one should reverently pour water while remembering the names and gotras of the ancestors. According to customs, this should be done by facing the south. If you are sitting facing southwest, it is considered very auspicious.
The importance of water for ancestors can be understood through the story of King Bhagiratha. Bhagirath brought the River Ganga to earth to save his ancestors. The story of the descent of Ganga and the salvation of her ancestors by her water holds an important place in Indian tradition. This is why Gangajal is considered especially sacred in ancestral feasts. Nevertheless, for tarpan, it is not necessary to use only Gangajal; tarpan can be performed with clean water with due reverence. More important than the water itself are sincere respect and remembrance of the ancestors.
If Sharadadh is observed on the day corresponding to the date of any ancestor during Pitr Paksha, after preparing the food, grass must be separately set aside for the cow and fed to it with reverence. If a cow is unavailable, green fodder or cow feed can be provided at any goshala. It is believed that such an act earns great favor from our ancestors, and they retain their grace.