Haridwar, known as the 'Gateway to Har', is a pilgrimage site where people come to take holy dips in the Ganges for merit. They also come here to ensure the liberation of their ancestors. While Haridwar is considered a sacred place for earning merit and achieving liberation, it also serves as a place for ancestral release.
People bid farewell to their ancestors with deep reverence on this day. It is believed that if a person does not know the date of their ancestors' death, they can take a dip in the Ganges or perform a worship ritual at the Shri Narayan Shila temple on the last day of Pitr Paksha, which is Pitru Visharjani Amavasya. This brings liberation and moksha to the ancestors.
The period from the full moon of Bhadrapada to the new moon of Ashvina is called the 'Two Weeks of Ancestors'. Performing pindadana and Sharaddha Tarpana for ancestors during these days brings them liberation. When ancestors are pleased, happiness, peace, and prosperity reign in the home. Scriptures state that anyone who could not perform Sharaddha for any reason during the Sharaddha period can perform pindadana and Sharaddha on the last day of this period—Pitru Visharjani Amavasya, which brings supreme well-being to the ancestors.
A large number of devotees gathered at the Shri Narayan Shila temple in Haridwar on Pitru Visharjani Amavasya. People started arriving early in the morning, and in the temple, they stood in long queues to bid farewell to their ancestors. Given the large gathering of pilgrims, the police organized extensive measures, allocating a significant number of police personnel.
Jyotishacharya Pandit Manoj Tripathi notes that Pitru Visharjani Amavasya is a time of farewell to ancestors who have been in homes for 16 days. He says that if there was a mistake, an oversight, or if a person forgot about Sharaddha or could not perform it for any reason, they can seek forgiveness and perform the 16-day Sharaddha on this day. Those who do not know the date can also perform Tarpana.
This place, which is located from the throat to the navel of Lord Narayana, where performing Sharaddha brings moksha to the ancestor. If a person performs Sharaddha here with devotion, or simply visits this place today, or just offers water, the ancestor is granted eternal sustenance. Pleased ancestors bestow blessings.
On Pitru Visharjani Amavasya, one should perform Sharaddha and feed a cow. The ancestors should be bid farewell in the evening. The farewell can be performed by offering 16 types of sweets, 16 portions of sweets with offerings, and lighting 16 lamps made of pure ghee from dough. Many make a round lamp from dough, which is also somewhat acceptable.
Sio City Haridwar Shishupal Singh Negi stated that today is Pitru Amavasya. All people are coming for worship and viewing. As seen since the morning, there are long queues. A sufficient number of police forces are present. Crowd pressure is very high, but the police are smoothly managing the movement of people. Adequate organization has been provided for crowd control. Entry of any four-wheeled vehicles is prohibited from Tulsi Chowk to Devapura, and enough duty staff has been assigned to this purpose.