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Sankalp — The Ritual Declaration
Every tarpan begins with sankalp: a formal declaration made aloud, in which the person performing the rite states their intention, their family lineage, and the date according to the Hindu calendar. This isn't a formality to rush through — it's what sets the specific purpose and recipients of the offering that follows, and a priest will guide you through the wording as you go.
The Water Offering
After sankalp, water mixed with black sesame seeds is offered at the riverbank, poured using a specific hand position (mudra) associated with ancestral offerings, distinct from the mudra used for offerings to deities. The offering is repeated for three categories of ancestors in turn — divine forebears, sages, and one's own family ancestors across several generations — each addressed separately rather than as a single combined gesture.
Why Amavasya Specifically
Amavasya, the new moon day, is considered particularly suited to ancestral offerings across Hindu tradition, and Sarvapitru Amavasya — the final day of Pitru Paksha — holds a specific additional role: it serves as a universal fallback date. When a family doesn't know the exact date or tithi on which an ancestor passed away, Sarvapitru Amavasya is the date on which tarpan can be performed on their behalf regardless, which makes it one of the most commonly chosen dates for families who are uncertain of the exact details.
What to Expect at the Ghat
The process itself takes less time than most families expect — usually well under an hour at the ghat — but each step matters in the order it needs to happen. Pt. Ankit Ji walks every family through it clearly, explaining what's being offered and why as you go, so nothing feels rushed or unclear on the day.
Families sometimes worry about getting the mantras or the mudra slightly wrong, especially if this is their first time performing tarpan themselves rather than watching a priest do it. In practice, the priest demonstrates each step just before you perform it, correcting gently as you go — precision matters, but nobody is expected to arrive already knowing the process.
If your family typically observes tarpan on Amavasya every month rather than only during Pitru Paksha, that's a perfectly normal variation, and Pt. Ankit Ji can accommodate a monthly or occasional visit just as easily as an annual one, working around whichever rhythm your family already follows.
