Parmeshwar Devkota

WE, the followers of Sanatan Dharma, have the tradition of remembering our forefathers before big festivals of Dashain and Tihar. This is called Sohra Shradda that started from the period of Mahabharata. It lasts for 16 days in which deceased fathers, mothers and forefathers are remembered and worshipped with special rituals.
As I asked one of my friends, who follows monotheism, “Do you have such a tradition?”

He replied in negative. In an inquiry concerning the wrong aspect of our recall of the ancestors, he said, “In our religion, everything is defined. We cannot do extra activities, except for those defined.” He added that his religion not only stops them from learning from other cultures and religions, but also, threatens them to punish mercilessly in the heavens after death.
The concept of hell and heaven is used in every religion, but it has the prominent place in the monotheistic religions, because it is a strong tool to bar disciples from learning from others. It is also used to tame them.
All creatures, including humans emerged from the gradual biological evolution. We originated from ape-like ancestors. Anthropologically, human beings are social animals because we have, by-birth, inquisitive. We learn from each other, share experiences and life-saving techniques.

Therefore, it is nonsense to bar us from learning good practices of other human beings. Knowingly or unknowingly, religions have been segregating us from the very start of their origins. It means we have been divided since some 1,000 years because the history of religions is not so long as that of the origin of mankind.
We are human beings. Our consciousness should be above any religious bar. So, if the cultures, customs and traditions of other people are inspiring, we should not hesitate to practise them as they nurture us as civilised citizens of the world.

Remembering ancestors once a year is good in every respect. Our forefathers were here. So are we here today. They must have worked hard to raise us, as we have been doing the same for our children. It is said that the cultural aspects play prominent role in cultivating of personality of individuals. This means that if you have the capacity to understand cultures, you are considered to be a wise person in the society.
As we recall the deceased just before the Dashain festival, we feel relieved and honoured. Recalling ancestors is not accepting any religion or culture. Instead, it is for honouring them for bringing us to this world. So, I earnestly request all the monotheists to initiate the trend of recalling their ancestors before you celebrate your festivals.

Here I recall an answer given by Udhisthir to Yakshya in Mahabharata epic.
As Udhisthir reached the bank of a pond where his four brothers had already died, Yakshya volleyed a barrage of questions before him. All answers are quite enlightening, but one of them is the most prominent. As Yakshya asks, “What has covered the whole world?” Udhisthir’s answer is ‘ignorance.’