Every year in April, families in China celebrate a special festival called Qingming Festival (清明节, Qīngmíng Jié). In 2025, it is on April 4. It is also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.
People clean the tombs of their ancestors, offer food, flowers, and say prayers to show love and respect for the people who have passed away.
This is very similar to what we do in India during rituals like श्राद्ध (Shraddha) in Hindi, and திதி விழா (Thithi Vizha) or அமாவாசை வழிபாடு (Amavasai Vazhipadu) in Tamil.
Let’s see how both countries remember their ancestors in beautiful and respectful ways.
In China, Qingming is the time when spring starts fully. The weather becomes nice, flowers bloom, and trees turn green.
Families visit the graves of their ancestors. They clean the area (called 扫墓 – sǎomù in Chinese), offer fruits, pastries, incense, wine, and flowers.
They also bow or stand in silence to remember and thank their ancestors.
🗓 It is held around April 4 or 5 every year, just after the Spring Equinox.
In India, we also remember and pray for our ancestors during days like:
श्राद्ध (Shraddha) – In North India
பித்ரு பக்ஷம் (Pitru Paksham) – In Tamil Nadu
अमावस्या तर्पण (Amavasya Tarpan) – New Moon day rituals
மஹாளய அமாவாசை (Mahalaya Amavasai) – Special day for all ancestors
On these days, families:
Go to river banks or temples
Do Tarpanam / Tarpan (तर्पण) – pouring water with sesame seeds
Offer banana, rice balls (பிண்டம் / Pindam), flowers, diya, and incense sticks
Say mantras and pray for peace of the ancestors
These rituals are done to get the blessings of our பித்ருக்கள் (Pitrukkal) / पितृ (Pitrus) – meaning forefathers.
In China:
Oranges, cakes, wine, flowers
In India:
Banana, cooked rice balls (Pindam), sesame seeds, water, lamp (தீபம் / दीपक)
In China:
Qingming Festival (April)
In India:
Shraddha, Pitru Paksha, Amavasya, Mahalaya
Both happen during special days of the year, when nature changes.
People in both cultures stand in silence, bow, or chant mantras to show respect.
In China – At the tombs or cemeteries
In India – Near rivers (Ganga, Kaveri), temples, or ancestral homes
Qingming is not only about remembering ancestors — it is also about enjoying spring!
They enjoy flowers, fresh air, and time with family.
People during Qing Ming Fesival they go out to celebrate the festival
Just like Indian kids do in January for Pongal / Makar Sankranti.
This is a soft green round dessert made with herbs and red bean paste.
In India, we also offer sweets like payasam (பாயசம்) or kheer (खीर) during rituals.
Even though India and China are different countries, we both believe in the power of remembering our elders.
Whether we offer banana and sesame seeds near a river, or pastries and flowers at a tomb, we are saying:
“Thank you. We remember you.”
In the end, love, gratitude, and respect are the same in every language.
