18/09/2024
*
*Pitru Paksha and Sarva Pitru Amavasya Special*(Without Onion and Garlic)
*Pitru Paksha and Sarva Pitru Amavasya Special*
Pitru Paksha (fortnight of the ancestors) is a 16-lunar day period in Hindu calendar when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (pitrs), especially through food offerings. In southern and western India, it falls in the 2nd paksha (fortnight) Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada (September) and follows the fortnight immediately after the Ganesh Festival. It begins on the Pratipada (first day of the fortnight) ending with the no moon day known as Sarvapitri Amavasya.
Pitru Paksha is designated for karmic cleansing and for performing rituals and prayers for the ancestors. It is believed that souls of our ancestors are closest to the Mother Earth during these days. Our ancestors leave behind their good and bad karmas. We enjoy happiness, success, peace and prosperity because of their good karmas and face obstacles, hindrances and illness in life due to some of their bad karmas that keeps reflecting in our lives. When we perform rituals for their peace, they bless us in return as we have helped them in releasing their negative karmic ties.
Normally the shraddh or the other rituals are performed in the name of a particular ancestor on the tithi when he or she left the physical body. But at times, one is not aware of the lunar dates , the ancestors left their mortal body. In such cases, "Sarve Pitru Amavasya" comes as a rescue. As the name suggest, sarva means all, pitru means ancestors and Amavasya is the dark night- which means a day designated for all ancestors irrespective of the day they have died .
On this day devotees remember their ancestors and pay homage to them and offer, food, clothes and sweets to the Brahmins. The belief of offering food to the dead ancestors is said to free their souls from the circle of life so that they can attain salvation. The food offerings made for the ancestors are cooked at home and offered typically on plate and cups made of dried leaves. The food offered during shradh varies from place to place in India. The thali shown here is what we cook in on the shradh tithi and on Sarv
