Remembering My Mother And Her Love For Haridwar Through Tarpana

That day I took cold water for tarpana directly from the water dispenser. Normally, I take it from the big copper container I have, but I must have been lost in some thoughts. When I began the tarpana, with the very first offering, I felt the icy cold water on my palm. Immediately, my first thought was of my mother. A memory surfaced so fast and so vivid I halted the tarpana for the moment in a reflex.

The year was 2011, the first time she had visited Haridwar. I had planned the trip because she had always wanted to go there, being a deeply religious person. I still remember the moment we arrived, checked into a hotel very close to Har Ki Pauri, left our belongings there, and went straight to take a dip in Ma Ganga, our holy river.

The current was much stronger than the rivers we had bathed in before. So I went in first to make sure it was safe. The water was very cold, yet incredibly energizing. I told Mummy that the water was cold, but she seemed absorbed in her own thoughts. Her face was glowing; I distinctly remember a gentle smile, as if her mind was immersed in devotion to Ma Ganga. Coming here had been her long-standing wish.

I held her hand as she stepped in. When she dipped, her face reflected surprise, devotion, excitement, and contentment - all at once. She seemed lost in her own world, oblivious to the crowd around us. And it was quite crowded. She bathed to her heart’s content, and we spent a couple of days in Haridwar visiting temples, talking about spirituality and family.

After that trip, I took her to Haridwar several more times, knowing how much she loved it. It would have continued, had she not passed away in 2023.

That first offering of tarpana water that day brought back, so vividly, the feeling of her closeness, the feeling of her joy and contentment in the lap of Ma Ganga. No matter how much I try, I can never express my true feeling for revered Gurus for their so genuine, selfless and intense efforts in creating and sharing tarpana ritual documents for everyone to use.

For those of us who can, we must perform this ritual without fail. It is duty of the highest nature, deeply purifying, and is mandatory for our ancestors' well being. We should always serve them and keep them in our prayers. Who will do that if we turn a blind eye?