Satbij scattered in memory of departed souls

By Baburam karki,Barahakshetra, Nov. 20: Families who have lost their loved ones scattered satbij (a mixture of sacred grains) at various temples in memory of their ancestors on Wednesday. 

 On the occasion of Mangsir Krishna Chaturdashi, relatives visited holy sites and performed the ritual of scattering satbij in memory of their departed ancestors.

It is believed that by staying awake all night on Mangsir Krishna Trayodashi, lighting lamps in the name of the deceased souls, and scattering satbij the next morning,  one can be freed from Pitri Dosha (ancestral obstacles). 

With this religious belief, devotees performed the satbij ritual at Barahakshetra, Ramdhuni, Halesi, Arjundhara, and other temples, and Shakti Peeths.

For the liberation of their ancestors, Hindu devotees light lamps from the previous evening, stay awake the whole night, and scatter satbij the next morning on the day of Bala Chaturdashi every year.

 According to the Barahakshetra Temple Guthi Management Committee Chairperson, Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha, thousands of devotees gathered at the ancient pilgrimage site of Baraha Kshetra in Sunsari to scatter satbij. 

He said that people from eastern to western Nepal had arrived at Barahakshetra for the ritual.

Likewise, Yuvraj Bhattarai from Chatara said, “We scattered satbij for the second time in memory of our father.

 Every year, people who have lost their relatives come to scatter satbij at Barahakshetra, Ramdhuni, Halesi, Arjundhara, and other temples and Shakti Peeths.”

Seven types of grains are used in satbij for the liberation of ancestors.

 Rice, wheat, maize, black gram, green gram, sesame, and chickpeas are mixed together and scattered around temples, ponds, and their surroundings. 

Fruits like lemon, lime, orange, apple, sugarcane, guava, and banana are also included as satbij.

 It is believed that scattering Satbij in the name of departed relatives helps attain freedom from Pitri Dosha.

The Guthi Management Committee of Barahakshetra Temple said that large crowds gather early in the morning after taking a ritual bath at the confluence of the Sapta Koshi and Kokaha rivers to perform the satbij ritual.

 Devotees from Nepal, India, and Bhutan arrive from the previous day to offer Satbij in memory of their ancestors.

According to religious narratives, the tradition of scattering satbij began after Balananda, who was involved in wrongful deeds, was killed by his close friend Vrishasingh on the day of Marga Krishna Chaturdashi, which is observed as Bala Chaturdashi. 

Tormented by grief for killing his friend, Vrishasingh received a divine message in his dream instructing him to visit the deity’s area on the anniversary of Balananda’s death and scatter satbij made by mixing seven types of grains.