Shivraj Singh Chouhan Performs Shraddha Tarpan for Late Mother
Synopsis
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan observed his late mother's Shraddha Divas on the Tritiya Tithi of Pitru Paksha 2026, performing the Tarpan ritual and sharing a message of ancestral gratitude and righteous living on social media.
Key Takeaways
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan posted on September 29, 2026 , the Tritiya Tithi of Pitru Paksha.
He performed the Tarpan ritual in remembrance of his late mother on her annual Shraddha Divas.
Pitru Paksha is a 15-day Hindu lunar fortnight dedicated to honouring and offering rites to departed ancestors.
Chouhan prayed for continued 'good sense, the right path, and good deeds' — framing personal tribute as a public moral commitment.
He closed with a reminder that Pitru Paksha calls all people to gratitude towards their roots and cultural values.
On the Tritiya Tithi of Pitru Paksha 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paused from public life to observe a deeply personal ritual — the shraddha divas (death anniversary) of his late mother, performing the ancient tarpan rite and sharing his remembrance with the nation on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
In a heartfelt post in Hindi, Chouhan wrote: 'During Pitru Paksha, we reverently remember those ancestors because of whom we exist and who are no longer among us. Today, on Tritiya Tithi, is my late mother's Shraddha Divas. I performed the Tarpan ritual with complete devotion and bowed at her feet.' He added a prayer that has the texture of a personal creed: 'May good sense prevail, may we walk the right path, and may we continue to do good work in life.'
The Ritual He Performed — and What Tarpan Means
Tarpan is the act of offering water mixed with black sesame seeds and sacred grass (kusha) to departed souls, a practice rooted in texts as old as the Vedas. It is performed specifically during Pitru Paksha — the 15-day lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar dedicated to ancestor veneration, falling in the Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada. Each of the fifteen days corresponds to specific categories of ancestors and specific tithis; the Tritiya is observed for those who departed on that lunar date.
For millions of Hindus across India, this fortnight is among the most solemn on the calendar. The belief: that the souls of departed relatives are closest to the living world during these days, and that sincere offerings of water, prayer, and gratitude ease their onward journey.
Chouhan's Closing Message — Gratitude as a Way of Living
The senior BJP leader did not confine the post to private grief. He widened it into a reminder: 'We should never forget those ancestors because of whom we exist. Pitru Paksha reminds us of gratitude towards our roots, our values, and our forebears.' Closing with 'Pujya Mata Ji ke charno mein barambar pranam' — 'Repeated salutations at the feet of my revered mother' — Chouhan drew a line between personal loss and collective inheritance.
Such public expressions of ancestral remembrance are a consistent thread in Indian public life, particularly among leaders who lean into cultural identity. What makes this post more than ritual is the simplicity of the prayer at its core: walk the right path, do good work, do not forget where you came from. A former four-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh offering that prayer at a public platform is a reminder that even at the height of political life, some debts feel older and heavier than office.
Point of View
Emotionally connected persona, earning him the informal title 'Mama' among supporters — a public Pitru Paksha tribute reinforces continuity between personal faith and governance ethos. While the post carries no policy content, it signals cultural alignment with a large Hindu constituency for whom ancestral rites are deeply meaningful. The absence of any political inflection makes it one of the more genuine expressions of a leader's private world entering the public sphere.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pitru Paksha and why is it significant in Hinduism?
Pitru Paksha is a 15-day Hindu lunar fortnight in the Krishna Paksha of the Bhadrapada month, dedicated entirely to ancestor veneration. Hindus perform Shraddha rituals, offer Tarpan (water and sesame seeds), and pray for the peace of departed souls. It is considered one of the most important observances for honouring one's lineage.
What is the Tarpan ritual that Shivraj Singh Chouhan performed?
Tarpan is an ancient Vedic ritual in which a devotee offers water, black sesame seeds, and sacred kusha grass to the souls of deceased ancestors. It is believed to nourish and appease the departed, aiding their spiritual journey. The ritual is specifically prescribed during the Pitru Paksha fortnight.
What is Shraddha Divas?
Shraddha Divas refers to the annual death anniversary of a departed family member, observed according to the Hindu lunar calendar. Families perform rituals including Tarpan and offer food to Brahmins or the needy on this day as an act of remembrance and gratitude.
Who is Shivraj Singh Chouhan?
Shivraj Singh Chouhan is a senior BJP leader and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development in the Government of India. He is a former four-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and is widely known by the informal title 'Mama' among supporters.
What did Shivraj Singh Chouhan pray for on his mother's Shraddha Divas?
Chouhan prayed that good sense may prevail, that he may walk the righteous path, and that he may continue to do good work in life. He also urged people never to forget the ancestors from whom they descend.
