Suspecting kin might skip ritual due to financial constraints, UP man hosts own ‘terahvi’, feeds 1,900

KANPUR: In a bizarre case, a 64-year-old man from Lakshmanpur village in Auraiya district threw a curveball at tradition. Defying the conventional norm of holding 'terahvi' feasts posthumously, Rakesh Yadav decided to celebrate it while still being alive. The grand affair on Monday saw a whopping 1,900 guests from the village and surrounding areas, leaving everyone stunned.

Yadav's reasoning behind this unusual move was twofold - he confided in the locals that he wanted to combat loneliness. More poignantly, he suspected his relatives might skip the traditional 'terahvi' ritual due to financial pressures. To spare anyone trouble, he took matters into his own hands and hosted the event himself.

As a bachelor, he was apprehensive about care in old age. His decision sparked a debate in the village. However, he clarified that the event was merely a feast, with no religious rites or 'pind daan'.

Yadav, who frequently attended 'terahvi' feasts in the village, said he wanted to have a feast in his own honour while he was still alive. He got formal invitation cards printed and distributed them among the villagers. The card stated, "Invitation for a living 'terahvi'. I am alone, with no one for me. I am fortunate to hold my 'bhandara while alive'. It also included a couplet: "Hamein apnon ne loota, gairon mein kahan dam tha, meri kashti wahan doobi jahan paani kam tha."

The sexagenarian, who receives an old-age pension, organised the feat using his savings. Yadav's youngest brother, Chandrapal, died after a long illness, and his second brother, Naresh Yadav, was murdered. None of the brothers was married. They have one sister, who is married.

He mentioned donating his ancestral home to a relative and living in a simple hut himself. Villagers were left baffled upon receiving the invitation card, with a local Anuj admitting they initially suspected a printing error or a prank, given Rakesh's very much alive status, seen strolling around the village post-card distribution. "We were surprised... But, we attended his 'terahvi' feast to honour his feelings and prayed for his long life," he said.