About Ancestral Blessings, Date, Rituals and Significance

According to the Vedic tradition in Hindu religion, there are many customs, fasts, and festivals. Under this, Shradh of ancestors is also performed. Shradh rituals can be performed on the Amavasya date of every month, but there is a rule to perform shradh rituals in the entire fortnight from the full moon day of Bhadrapada month to the new moon day of Ashwin month. This festival of paying homage to our ancestors is called Shradh. According to the Hindu calendar, the period from the full moon of Bhadrapada month to the new moon of Ashwin month is called Pitru Paksha.

The practice of Shradh has been going on since the Vedic period. The purpose of Shradh is to pay homage to our ancestors and pray for the satisfaction of their souls. It is said that only the water offered during Shradh i.e. Pitru Paksha brings peace and salvation to the souls of the ancestors.

Pitru Paksh Shradh Significance

It is believed that a human being attains life after leaving 84 lakh births. When a child is born then he is in the form of a child but when he participates in Shradh rituals then he is truly called a son. By performing Shradh of ancestors with full devotion during Pitru Paksha, their souls get peace and there is no effect of Pitra Dosh. During Pitru Paksha, it is believed that the deceased ancestors are present on earth for 16 days and their wishes are fulfilled by burning cow dung cakes while performing Shradh rituals on the date of their death.

Why is Ptru Paksh is importent

Pitru Paksha is considered very important for the ancestors and the ancestors' family members. The ancestors are happy after receiving Tarpan, Ardhya and Bhaag from their descendants and shower their blessings. Due to the happiness of ancestors during Pitru Paksha, Pitra Dosh also gets removed and troubles go away

Pitru Paksha 2024: Know Who Can Perform Shradh

Mainly only the son has the right to perform the Shradh of the father. If there is more than one son, all the Shradh rituals should be performed by the eldest son. If there is no son then the wife should perform Shradh and in the absence of a wife, the elder brother or grandson, great-grandson, daughter-in-law, nephew are entitled to do it.

Rituals performed on Shradh

For Pitru Paksha ritual, wake up and take bath before sunrise on Shradh date with reverence for the peace of ancestors. Wear clean clothes and take a pledge to perform Shradh and donate for the satisfaction of ancestors. Basically, remain hungry on the day of Shradh and prepare satvik food with full devotion. Keep Gogras, Panch Gras etc. aside and serve food in a plate in front of the photo of the deceased family member. With folded hands, pray to them to come and take food with pity. Pray for blessings for your children to be rich, prosperous and healthy. After this, satisfy the Brahmin by feeding him food to his heart's content and giving him donations as per his devotion and seek his blessings. After having the meal, feed the Gogras kept to the cow and the Panchagras to the crows, dogs, insects etc. After this the family members also have food. This is the reason that every year during Pitru Paksha, people perform Shradh, Tarpan etc. for their ancestors with full devotion and faith. According to mythological belief, during Pitru Paksha, if someone performs Shradh for his ancestors on the date related to them, then his ancestors become happy and shower their full blessings on him.