Every morning, I fill water in a copper vessel, go out in the backyard, look up in the sky and offer water to my ancestors by pouring it out of the vessel. This act is called pitra tarpan, or showing gratitude to ancestors. Following this practice for the last four years, I am interested behind the purpose of this practice as well as its scientific implications. The scientific reasoning behind this tradition can be understood this way: The meaning of tarpan is to bring satisf

Since my childhood, I have seen my parents performing homams (fire rituals) every morning. Every weekend and on some religious festivals, I also take part and perform the poojas with them. Every day, my family lights a diya (candle) in the evening and prays before we eat dinner. Lighting diyas is considered a sacred ritual, meant to dispel the darkness created by human flaws and enlighten the world with optimism and happiness. Fire has had a special role in many cultures acro