Homage to Our Ancestors — Pitru Paksha

What is Pitru Paksha?

Pitru Paksha is a sixteen-lunar-day period in the Vedic calendar devoted to honoring one’s ancestors (Pitṛs). During this time, families traditionally offer prayers, food, and acts of service on behalf of departed loved ones. It is also a period when people avoid new ventures or “auspicious” ceremonies, choosing instead to focus on remembrance and gratitude.

Dates this year: Sunday, September 7 – Sunday, September 21, 2025.
The observance culminates on Sarvapitru Amavasya (the new-moon day for all ancestors). Pitru Paksha occurs near the autumn equinox and marks the traditional shift toward Dakṣiṇāyana (the sun’s southerly course) in the Indian astronomical tradition.

Note: While Pitru Paksha is rooted in Hindu tradition, the reflections and suggested practices below are not religion-exclusive. They can be adapted by anyone, regardless of background or belief, as ways to honor memory, lineage, mentors, and loved ones who have passed.

Why it matters

Remembrance, gratitude, and service are the heart of Pitru Paksha — open to all.

In Pitru Paksha (also called Śrāddha Paksha), homage is offered to the souls who have departed this earth. Through ritual (pūjā), offerings (śrāddha), and donations (dāna), families pray for peace and upliftment — sometimes expressed as helping the departed progress toward moksha (liberation). While forms vary by region and lineage, the heart of the practice is constant: remembrance, gratitude, and service.

Cross-cultural echo: Many communities worldwide hold seasonal remembrances of the departed. The reflective tone of Pitru Paksha bears a kinship — though not equivalence — to observances like Día de los Muertos.

Symbols & messengers in tradition

• Crow/Raven: In texts like the Garuda Purāṇa, crows are described as messengers of Yama (the governing energy of death) who carry offerings to ancestors. In many households, a portion of food is offered to crows during Pitru Paksha as a sign of remembrance. Other cultures have also honored the raven as a messenger — appearing in Greek and Norse myth (e.g., Odin’s ravens Huginn and Muninn).
• Dog: In Hindu mythology, the dog accompanies Yama. This image resonates with the Greek guardian figure Cerberus at the threshold of the underworld.

Folklore notes: A feather on the path or a crow’s call at the doorway is sometimes read as a reminder or “message.” These are poetic cultural motifs — held with affection in many families.

In literature and lore

From the Ramayana, the sage Vālmīki recounts the story of Kāgabhūṣuṇḍi, a crow blessed with extraordinary insight—often cited as a symbol of far-seeing wisdom. Traditional texts and local customs hold a wide range of such narratives, emphasizing remembrance, humility, and service.

(As an aside, Vishwanath Masonic Lodge, Bombay has historically marked this period with remembrances for departed members — an example of how many communities, beyond strictly religious settings, pause to honor the lives that shaped them.)

How to observe (simple, respectful ways for everyone)

Choose gestures that fit your values and context; these can be practiced with or without religious ritual:

1. Offerings at flowing water: Visit a river, lake outflow, or other flowing body of water. Offer flowers with a brief moment of silence, gratitude, or prayer — in your own words — for loved ones who have passed.
2. Food offerings & donations: Traditionally, jaggery is considered favorable in Pitru Paksha. You can also donate food to those in need, support animal welfare, or perform any quiet act of service in memory of your ancestors.
3. Home remembrance: Prepare a favorite simple dish of a departed loved one, light a diya or candle, and spend a few minutes in storytelling or reflection.
4. Keep the period reflective: Many households avoid major purchases and new undertakings during these sixteen days, preserving the time for remembrance and charity.

Gentle note: Practices and beliefs differ by family and region. Adapt what is meaningful to you; the essence is remembrance and kindness.

Closing reflection

Pitru Paksha invites us to pause — to honor those who walked before us and to carry their best qualities forward. Whether through ritual, service, or a quiet moment of gratitude, remembrance becomes a bridge — between generations, and between the seen and the unseen — open to all.

Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti!!!

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