Pitru Paksha or Shradh/ Shraddh, is a 15-day ritual by Hindus to remember their ancestors. During Pitru Paksha, the deceased's eldest son performs the Shraddha by making offerings for ancestors said to be in pitrulok (the realm between Heaven and Earth).
Pitru Paksha or Shradh begins during the Purnima Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada and is all set to begin on September 29, 2023. Pitru Paksha will end on the Amavasya Tithi of Krishna Paksha or Sarva Pitru Amavasya on October 14, 2023.
Special food is prepared for the shraddha rites and is first offered to a crow — believed to be Yama, the keeper of pitrulok — and then to priests before the family can partake. Pitru Paksha and Shraddha are considered essential by Hindus to ensure their ancestors’ passage into Heaven.
Pitru Paksha 2023: Significance
As per Hindu mythology, the souls of our previous three generations reside in 'Pitru Loka', which is known as the realm between heaven and earth. This realm is headed by the god of death, Yama. It is believed when It is believed that when a person from the next generation dies, the first generation is taken to heaven bringing them closer to God. Only the last three generations in Pitru-Loka are given shraddh rites.
Pitru Paksha 2023: Rituals
The eldest son of the family wakes up early in the morning and takes a holy bath.
Wear clean clothes to perform puja.
Put the ancestor's picture on a wooden table in the south direction.
Put black sesame seeds and barley seeds.
Pind is prepared from rice balls made up of ghee, honey, rice, goat’s milk, sugar, and barley.
The Pind is then followed by Tarpan where water is mixed with the flour, barley, kush, and black sesame.
Pind and tarpan are provided for the needy and poor people.
