Pitru Paksha rituals involve Shradh, Tarpan, and Pind Daan to honor ancestors

Pitru Paksha, a 16-day period in the Hindu calendar, is observed to express gratitude and seek blessings from ancestors through rituals such as Shradh, Tarpan, and Pind Daan. The 2026 observance runs from September 26 to October 10.

Key religious practices include Tarpan, where water mixed with black sesame, Ganga water, and Kusha grass is offered facing the south direction. It is believed that using Kusha grass is essential to ensure the offerings reach the ancestors. Devotees also perform Pind Daan at sacred sites like Kashi (Varanasi), Gaya, and Haridwar. In Kashi, specific locations like Pishach Mochan Kund and Prayag Ghat are central to these rites.

Astrological traditions suggest that performing these rituals can mitigate 'Pitru Dosh', a condition believed to cause life obstacles. Recommended remedies include chanting specific mantras, lighting lamps under Peepal trees, feeding cows, crows, and birds, and donating food and water to the needy. For those unable to visit ancestral homes, performing acts of charity and service to animals is considered a valid way to honor the deceased.