📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Goutam1962
Religion
Pitru Paksha Begins Across India as Families Ready for Ancestral Rites
✍️ Kanak News Odisha
🗓 27 Sep 2026, 01:01 PM
👁 9
The Hindu observance Pitru Paksha has started, ushering in a sixteen‑day period of ancestor worship observed nationwide.
Pitru Paksha, the fortnight dedicated to honoring departed ancestors, commenced today according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The period, which spans sixteen days, is observed by millions of Hindus across the country who perform rites such as tarpana and shraddha to express gratitude and seek blessings for their forebears.
During this time, families gather to offer water, rice, and sesame seeds to the departed souls, often at home altars or near riverbanks. Priests may be consulted to conduct elaborate pujas, especially on the concluding day, Mahalaya Amavasya, when the rites are believed to be most potent.
The start of Pitru Paksha coincides with the waning phase of the moon in the month of Bhadrapada, a timing traditionally regarded as auspicious for ancestral worship. Religious leaders have urged devotees to observe the rituals with sincerity and to avoid any commercial exploitation of the sacred period.
While the observance is primarily religious, it also reinforces social bonds as younger generations learn about family lineage and cultural heritage. Markets report a surge in sales of ritual items such as puja thalis, incense, and specific food offerings, reflecting the nationwide participation.
Authorities have reminded the public to maintain cleanliness at public water bodies used for rites, ensuring that the environmental impact remains minimal during the fortnight-long observance.
During this time, families gather to offer water, rice, and sesame seeds to the departed souls, often at home altars or near riverbanks. Priests may be consulted to conduct elaborate pujas, especially on the concluding day, Mahalaya Amavasya, when the rites are believed to be most potent.
The start of Pitru Paksha coincides with the waning phase of the moon in the month of Bhadrapada, a timing traditionally regarded as auspicious for ancestral worship. Religious leaders have urged devotees to observe the rituals with sincerity and to avoid any commercial exploitation of the sacred period.
While the observance is primarily religious, it also reinforces social bonds as younger generations learn about family lineage and cultural heritage. Markets report a surge in sales of ritual items such as puja thalis, incense, and specific food offerings, reflecting the nationwide participation.
Authorities have reminded the public to maintain cleanliness at public water bodies used for rites, ensuring that the environmental impact remains minimal during the fortnight-long observance.