Honouring Our Ancestors during Pitṛ Pakṣa

The fortnight of Pitṛ Pakṣa is a sacred period in the Hindu calendar dedicated to remembering and honouring our forefathers. According to Swami Harshananda’s writings, this tradition connects us with timeless concepts that have been central to Hindu thought for millennia.

Pitṛ Gāthā – The Song of the Manes

The Matsya Purāṇa describes a touching hymn known as the Pitṛ Gāthā, or “Song of the Manes.” It expresses the yearning of the ancestors for remembrance through offerings. They are believed to bless their descendants when honoured with food, water, charity, and service. Yet above all, they are deeply pleased if their descendants become scholars of scripture and devotees of the divine.

Pitṛ Loka – The Realm of the Ancestors

The scriptures describe Pitṛ Loka as the realm where departed ancestors reside. The Ṛgveda and Upaniṣads mention this world as one that can be reached through sacrificial rites and ritual. It is a place sustained by the offerings of the living, binding generations together through acts of remembrance.

Pitṛ Pakṣa – The Fortnight of Remembrance

The dark fortnight of the lunar month Bhādrapada is observed as Pitṛ Pakṣa. These fifteen days are considered highly auspicious for performing śrāddha (rites for ancestors). A story from the Mahābhārata reminds us of its importance: even the noble Karṇa, who gave gold in abundance during his lifetime, found himself deprived of food in the higher realms, as he had not offered it in honour of his forefathers. Hence, feeding others and offering food to the departed remains central to Pitṛ Pakṣa observances.

A Simple Way to Honour

Many of us may not have access to the traditional rituals (tarpaṇa), but we can still honour our ancestors with devotion and simplicity:

• Set up a small altar with pictures of parents or grandparents.

• Light a lamp and offer flowers.

• Place some food offerings — fresh fruit, cooked rice, or a simple sweet dish like kheer (rice pudding) — all of which are traditional and easy to prepare.

• Sit quietly, remember them with gratitude, and offer your prayers.

Even if it is not possible to do these offerings every day during Pitṛ Pakṣa, the new moon (amāvāsya) that concludes this fortnight is considered the most important day. Making your offerings on this day alone carries special significance.

Pitṛ Pakṣa is rooted in ritual -if you do not know the rites, simply create your altar, honour, and remember.

For me, this remembrance also carries a personal expression: I will be honouring books, just as my father did. He treated them like deities, a living altar of knowledge. For me, this is the most meaningful way to remember him and our family — by cherishing the wisdom, traditions, and values that have been passed on.