Son Performs Living Father’s Shraddh in Faridabad

Haryana : A bizarre and deeply controversial incident has unfolded in a village in Faridabad, Haryana, where a man allegedly performed the shraddh (ritual for the deceased) of his father—while the father is still alive. The act has shocked locals and sparked a heated social conflict, leading to the family being socially boycotted by the village community.

According to residents, the dispute between father and son had been simmering for some time over family property and personal disagreements. The situation escalated when the son, in a move seen as symbolic rejection and insult, carried out his father’s shraddh ceremony, an act that in Indian tradition is reserved for honoring the dead. Villagers consider this an extreme step that goes against cultural norms, amounting to a public declaration that the father is “dead” to him.

Following the ritual, the village panchayat convened and declared a complete social boycott of the son and his family—cutting off the traditional “hookah-pani” ties, which symbolize community acceptance and social interaction. This effectively barred them from participating in communal gatherings, celebrations, and village-level decision-making.

However, the son has refused to accept the punishment quietly. In an unexpected twist, he has called for his own counter-panchayat, inviting supporters and sympathetic villagers to challenge the boycott decision. Speaking to local reporters, he claimed that his actions were driven by personal grievances and alleged mistreatment by his father, insisting that he has the right to make his own choices without interference from the community.

“This is my personal matter. The village has no right to punish me like this. If they can hold a panchayat, I can too,” he said defiantly.

The father, meanwhile, has expressed shock and deep emotional pain over the act. “I am still alive, but my own son performed my shraddh. This is worse than death for me,” he told the media. Relatives have described the situation as “unprecedented” and “deeply disturbing.”

Local elders worry that the conflict could further divide the village, as some residents are openly supporting the son, citing personal freedom, while others believe such an act dishonors family values and traditions.

Authorities have so far stayed away from intervening directly, as the matter is rooted in social customs rather than criminal law. However, police have said they are keeping a close watch to ensure the dispute does not turn violent.

For now, the village remains split, with tension hanging in the air as the date for the son’s counter-panchayat approaches. Many fear that instead of resolving the dispute, it could deepen the rift not just within the family but also among villagers.