Today, September 17, the shraddha* season – the time of the year when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors – is upon us once more. For families, two shraddhas, or the ritual invocation and feasting of ...

On this day, devotees place books, musical instruments, and learning tools before the idol or image of Goddess Saraswati. The invocation involves chanting Vedic mantras, offering flowers, fruits, and ...