Hiriyaru

 The practice of Hiriyaru holds significant importance in the community as well as sociologically. Since the Siddi communities follow different religions, this one ritual of ancestral veneration unites them all. 

Ancestral worship, all throughout Africa, is found to be a common tradition. The Siddis are no different. The ancestors are believed to be in the living world, roaming as spirits, and are believed to possess divine powers that they use to help the family in times of distress. The ancestors are very important for Siddi spirituality. This is also a reason why some Siddis continue to pray to the Hindu deities that their ancestors passed on to them. 

The Hariyaru can be celebrated twice a year and the ritual is performed by the head of the family. It can be held during Navratri or in April-May. The home is decorated and all family members have to attend this, thus they renew their kinship relations. It signifies remembrance of the ancestors and its a way of thanking them for the care they provided and will continue to, now with divine connections and for trusting the new generation with the family values and responsibility. The Christian and Muslim Siddis have less elaborate functions for this compared to Hindu, who go all out.

Sources: African Descendants: Socio-Cultural Profile of Siddi Tribe in India-Akhilesh Kumar Upadhyay

Religion and Empire: Belief and Identity among African Indians of Karnataka, South India- Pashinton  Obeng

- Ramya