Shraddha ceremony is not performed in this village of UP
Along with Jaldan Purnima, Shraddha Paksha has also started. There is a tradition of performing Shraddha, Tarpan etc. in Pitrupaksha, one of the 16 rituals of Hinduism, for the peace of the souls of ancestors, but this is prohibited in a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. Performing Shraddha in Pitrupaksha for about 100 years. Brahmins are strictly prohibited from entering this village during Pitrupaksha. Not only this, during these 16 days no alms is given to any monk in the village. After all, why the villagers still stick to their old traditions even after many decades… is a big question, the reason behind which is also very interesting.
Bhagata Nagla village is located near Gunnaur in Sambhal, UP. This is the only village in Uttar Pradesh where performing Shraddha rituals for dead relatives on Pitru Paksha days is prohibited. Not only this, entry of Brahmins into the village and donation of Dakshina to Brahmins is prohibited on Pitrapaksha days. According to the villagers of Bhagata Nagla village, this tradition of banning the Shraddha ceremony of dead relatives during Pitrupaksha has been going on for the past 100 years in the village, which is still followed by the villagers.
What is the reason?
There is a belief in the village that if an attempt is made to perform Shraddha during Pitrupaksha, something untoward may happen in the village. There is a big reason behind this belief. Village elders say that once a villager invited a Brahmin woman from the neighboring village of Shahjahanabad to perform a Shraddha ceremony for the peace of the soul of her deceased relative. Brahmin women were honored by giving donations and dakshina during the Shraddha ceremony. When the Brahmin woman started returning to her village after performing the Shraddha ceremony, suddenly heavy rain started in the village due to which the Brahmin woman had to stay at the villager’s house for the night. When the Brahmin woman reached her home in the morning, her husband insulted her and threw her out of the house, accusing her of staying at the villagers’ house at night.
A Brahmin woman took a vow
After this, the Brahmin woman Bhagata returned to the Nagla village and took a promise from the villagers that no villager would perform Shraddha for their dead relatives on Pitru Paksha days and no Brahmin would be allowed to enter their village. If a villager tries to perform Shraddha rituals on Pitru Paksha days or shows respect to Brahmins and allows them to enter the village, the village will face divine calamities. Due to this belief no Brahmin is allowed to eat any food or enter the village on this day. This tradition has been going on continuously for years. Even today the villagers believe in this promise given by their elders.
