People planning to offer ‘biyyam’ to ancestors worried about Gandhi Jayanti

After giving biyyam to their ancestors, a majority of the people have non-vegetarian food, including chicken or mutton, besides having liquor as part of a tradition in Telangana.

Karimnagar: People who were planning to offer ‘biyyam’ (rice and vegetables) to their ancestors, are worried about October 2 since the sale of non-vegetarian items as well as liquor would be banned in connection with Gandhi Jayanti.

Hindus offer biyyam to their ancestors on the day of Sarva Pitru Mahalaya Amavasya (locally called as Petramasa) remembering and honouring their departed parents and ancestors. As part of the ritual, people give rice and vegetables to priests, who perform rituals to appease the soul of the departed. By offering biyyam to priests, people believe that they have served the food to their departed. Besides offering biyyam, ‘pitru tarpanam’ and ‘sraddhalu’ will also be performed on the day when the biggest festival of Telangana women, Bathukamma, also starts.

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After giving biyyam to their ancestors, a majority of the people have non-vegetarian food, including chicken or mutton, besides having liquor as part of a tradition in Telangana. Moreover, people strongly believe that non-vegetarian food and liquor that they have should also be served to their ancestors. Unfortunately, this year Petramasa is scheduled on October 2. Non-vegetarian people are worriesd since the sale of chicken and mutton as well as liquor will not be allowed on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

Following this, some people have completed the ritual on Tuesday, while several others are planning to do it on Thursday. Going a step ahead, a few of them have purchased liquor well in advance on Tuesday. Speaking to Telangana Today, Pulluri Sadiah said the souls of departed ancestors would be satisfied if the biyyam was offered to them on the day of Petramasa.

In the wake of Gandhi Jayanthi, some people in the district have already completed the process in advance.