Shraadh is a holy ceremony conducted to honor and show appreciation to ancestors. It is carried out to ensure the peace of the deceased souls and the welfare of the family. The ritual is thought to provide tranquility to the departed, as well as happiness, prosperity, and blessings to the family, representing a way to repay a debt to one's parents and forebears. Nowadays, it is often observed that children neglect to ask about or care for their parents during their lifetime, yet after their passing, they engage in detailed Shraadh rituals and observe their death anniversaries.
I come across situations that make me question humanity. A son confined his mother to force her into transferring all her assets to him. He even barred her from visiting her sick eldest son. The mother was so terrified of him that she installed cameras in his room. However, in her last moments, her housekeeper felt compassion and made a video call to her eldest daughter-in-law, expressing apologies, offering blessings, and explaining her distress, but it was in vain. Similarly, last week, a member from our West Vihar branch approached our branch head, alleging that her two sons and daughters-in-law were mistreating her. They denied her food but wanted her to sign documents and demanded her fixed deposits. When she spoke to me, I was initially taken aback.
Even sons from affluent families behave this way, so I requested the local police, who handle senior citizen issues, to simply talk to them and explain that the parents might be at fault. Our goal isn't to intimidate anyone; we just want sons to honor their parents, respect their age, and not mistreat them. They should also provide them with love and respect, ensure they receive meals on time, and parents should reciprocate with love. Parents only complain when they are overwhelmed. After a simple phone call, the two sons and daughters-in-law realized their mistake, apologized to their parents, and promised to care for them, attend to their needs, and provide meals on time.
Fortunate are the sons and daughters-in-law who promptly amended their error and started caring for their living parents during the Shraadh period. Their parents even rewarded them with a fixed deposit. This illustrates that parents are willing to do anything for their children; they only seek love and respect.
Today, I want to encourage all sons, children, and daughters-in-law to grasp the true essence of Shraadh. Care for your parents while they are alive; there is nothing left for them afterward. It is widely accepted that performing Shraadh is a way to achieve peace of mind and ease guilt. Even if you didn't care for your parents during their lifetime, I believe that tending to them while they are alive and ensuring they are well-fed is the most important thing.
Do not coerce them into giving up their property or force them to draft a will. Allow them to live freely, with their hearts, in their final days. This is genuine service!