Condolence Meeting  

It is customary to hold a condolence meeting after the sacrament. A framed photograph of the deceased is kept on a platform. A Bhajan (singing the verses of saints) is arranged before the meeting.

Bhajan

Raghupati Raghav Rajaram Pateet Pavan Seetaram  !
Sundar Madhav Meghhashyam Pateet Pavan Seetaram !!
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram Pateet Pavan Seetaram !
Janakee Jeevan Rajaram Pateet Pavan Seetaram !!
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram Pateet Pavan Seetaram !
Seetaram Seetaram bhaj bhaj tumhi Seetaram !!
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram Pateet Pavan Seetaram !!

After the Bhajan, the relative, friends and colleagues of the departed pay homage to him/her
Shraddha is remembering the deceased with love and respect.
That should be the content of the brief speeches made at the condolence meeting.
On the death anniversaries also, similar Bhajans and meeting can be arranged.

If this is not possible, it would be appropriate to remember the departed and make charities in his/her name on the death anniversaries.

Our saints have spoken a lot about death. It is customary that the relative of the deceased meet on the day of shraddha and sing the verses of saints that gives us a proper perspective of death. Also those who would like to pay homage to the departed and relate his memories can make brief speeches in the condolence meeting. A similar meeting can also be organized on the first death anniversary.

For the believers of these religious rituals and those feeling it is outdated it is important to note the intention behind these rituals. Shraddha is actually a way of uniting ourselves with our ancestors. It is a means to relate our ancestors & the next generations with each other. It provides you a platform to sing the songs praying your ancestors, telling the stories of their glorious lives and inspire the next generation to follow the path of their forefathers. Thus the history of each and every family flowing from generation to generation will be formed into a “Social History”.

Any person of good character, of either sex, of any caste, creed or religion, can conduct this sacrament.