Every year, we observe Pitru Paksha to honour our ancestors and pray for their peaceful afterlife. This year it commences on 7 September. On this auspicious occasion, crores of people pay tribute, perform kind acts to express gratitude to ancestors for their contributions in their lives.
Pitru Paksha – Origin and its Significance
The significance of Pitru Paksha has its roots in ancient times. One of the renowned references can be found in the story of Karna in the Mahabharata. After his death in the battle of Kurukshetra, he went to heaven. His soul was hungry and when he asked for food, he was only offered gold and jewels. When Karna asked the reason behind this, Yama, the God of death, informed him that while he has given a lot of gold and wealth to poor people, he had never offered Tarpan to his ancestors.
Lord Yama told him that one can only receive what he has given to others or what their descendants offered in their name. Since he lost all his sons in the war, there was no one to perform these rites for him. Karna asked Lord Yama to allow him to go back to Earth to perform his duties to his ancestors. Yama granted him 15 days on Earth to offer food and water to his ancestors. This period is known as Pitru Paksha.
Rituals and Ancestors’ Blessings
Pitru Paksha culminates with Mahalaya Amavasya. On this day, people perform Shradh Puja to bring peace to the departed souls. The key rituals include:
- Tarpan – An offering of water mixed with sesame, barley and darbha grass, which is believed to quench the thirst of the ancestors.
- Pind Daan – A ball made of cooked rice or barley with sesame seeds, honey and ghee. The word Pind means body and Daan means charity. The Pind symbolises the physical form of the deceased.
Through Shradh Puja, families perform these rituals to honour ancestors and to aid their journey toward peace. The rituals usually conclude with acts of charity, showing gratitude towards ancestors. One way to do this is by feeding those in need.
Feed Children. Support Akshaya Patra
Feeding others is the biggest tribute you can give to your ancestors. This Pitru Paksha, you can honour your ancestors by supporting Akshaya Patra’s efforts to serve mid-day meals to 2.33 million children across India. With a network of kitchens in 78 locations across 16 states and 3 UTs, we nourish both children and their dreams.
By making a Pitru Paksha donation, you can
- Meet their nutritional needs
- Keep children in schools
- Improve their concentration
- Empower children from marginalised communities
When you feed children, you are not only pleasing the past generation with your generosity but also building a better future.
Your Pitru Paksha Donation can Make an Impact
Nourish a child in honour. As you offer Tarpan, secure a child’s future with the promise of mid-day meals. On this day, let’s bond together for a cause whose impact lasts for a lifetime.
Support our vision – No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger.
₹1,500 feeds a child for an academic year
