Chai & Matcha Diaries

Did you know that India and Japan share a beautiful cultural tradition of remembering and honoring their ancestors?
Though the customs differ, the intention is deeply the same — to show love, respect, and gratitude to those who came before us. 🙏✨

📖 The Story Behind Indian Shrāddh

The origin of Shrāddh is rooted in ancient Hindu scriptures and mythology, particularly the Mahabharata and Puranas.

🧙‍♂️ The Legend of Karna

One of the most well-known stories comes from the Mahabharata, involving the noble warrior Karna, who was known for his generosity.

• After Karna died in battle and reached the afterlife, he was offered gold and jewels instead of food.
• Confused and hungry, he asked the gods why he wasn’t given real food.
• The gods replied that during his life, he had donated wealth but never offered food to his ancestors.
• Karna pleaded for a chance to return to Earth and make amends.
• He was granted 15 days to go back and perform the necessary rituals and food offerings.

This period became known as Pitru Paksha (literally “fortnight of the ancestors”), during which Shrāddh is performed to ensure that ancestors are nourished and at peace.

🔍 Moral of the story: Even the most virtuous life is incomplete without honoring one’s lineage. The act of feeding ancestors is seen as a sacred duty (dharma).

🏮 The Story Behind Japanese Obon Yasumi

The Japanese Obon festival is inspired by a Buddhist tale found in the Ullambana Sutra, which traveled from India to China and eventually to Japan.

🧘‍♂️ The Tale of Maha Maudgalyayana (Mokuren)

• Mokuren, a disciple of the Buddha, used his spiritual powers to look for his deceased mother.
• He discovered that she had been reborn in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts (Gaki-dō), suffering from insatiable hunger and thirst.
• Devastated, he asked the Buddha how to help her.
• The Buddha advised him to make offerings to monks returning from their summer retreat on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.
• Mokuren followed this advice, and his mother’s soul was released from suffering.
• Overjoyed, he danced with gratitude—this dance became the origin of Bon Odori, the traditional Obon dance.

🔍 Moral of the story: Compassion and filial piety can transcend even death. By helping others and honoring the spiritual community, one can uplift their ancestors.

🕰 Timing and Duration

• Shrāddh (India):
  Shrāddh rituals are primarily observed during the 15-day lunar period known as Pitru Paksha (Ancestor period), which typically falls in September–October (according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar). It starts with the full moon day (Purnima) of Bhadrapada month and ends with Amavasya (new moon) of Ashwin month.
• Obon Yasumi (Japan):
  Obon generally takes place over three days in mid-August (around the 13th to 15th), although some regions observe it in July based on different calendars. The Buddhist calendar variation means that different regions might observe it on different dates, but the essence remains unchanged.

🪔 Despite the difference in calendar systems, both Shrāddh and Obon fall near the end of summer or early autumn, symbolically aligning with the harvest season—a time traditionally associated with gratitude and cycles of renewal.

🍚 Offerings and Rituals

One of the most powerful similarities lies in the ritualistic offerings made to the departed souls, a reflection of spiritual hospitality and familial duty

Indian Shrāddh Offerings

• Pind Daan: Balls made of rice, barley flour, sesame seeds, and sometimes cow’s ghee offered as sustenance for the ancestors.
• Tarpan: A ritual of offering water mixed with sesame seeds, barley, and kusha grass to appease and elevate the souls of the ancestors.
• Sacred Fire (Homa): Fire rituals are conducted with Vedic mantras to seek blessings and forgiveness.
• Food and Feeding: Special vegetarian meals are prepared and offered to Brahmins (priests or learned individuals) or the poor, symbolizing offerings to the ancestors themselves

Japanese Obon Offerings

• Seasonal Food and Fruits: Placed on family altars (butsudan)—often including rice cakes (mochi), peaches, and sweets.
• Incense and Flowers: Burned and arranged at home altars and graves to purify surroundings and offer fragrance to spirits.
• Floating Lanterns (Toro Nagashi): Beautiful paper lanterns floated down rivers or lit and hung around homes to guide ancestral spirits.
• Bon Odori Dance: Community dances performed to welcome spirits joyfully—a balance of reverence and celebration.

🧭 Guiding the Spirits: Spiritual Beliefs

At the core of both observances is a shared belief that ancestors return during this specific time, drawn by the love and devotion of their descendants.

• In Shrāddh, it’s believed that the departed souls come to Earth and accept the offerings if performed with pure devotion. The rituals help them attain peace and liberation (moksha).
• In Obon, families light welcoming fires (mukaebi) and farewell fires (okuribi) to guide the spirits to and from the world of the living.

These shared beliefs reflect a universal idea: death does not sever the relationship; it simply transforms it.

In both cultures, this time is not just about mourning — it’s a celebration of life, of memories, and of family bonds that transcend even death. 🕊️
Whether it’s fire ritual in India or a lantern in Japan, we’re all saying the same thing to our ancestors:

“We remember you. We honor you. Thank you.”