Pitru Paksha 2018: All you need to know about 'Shraddha' this year; check dates, time and rituals

Hindus remember their ancestors during a 15-day period referred to as 'Pitru Paksha' or 'Mahalaya Paksha' or 'Sola Shraddha'. This usually falls in the fortnight immediately after the Ganesha festival, i.e. in the second fortnight of the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada. During Pitru Paksha, the eldest son of the deceased performs the Shraddha by making offerings for ancestors said to be in pitrulok (the realm between Heaven and earth). Special food is prepared for the shraddha rites, and is first offered to a crow — believed to be Yama, the keeper of pitrulok — and then to priests before the family can partake in. Pitru Paksha and Shraddha are considered essential by Hindus to ensure their ancestors’ passage into Heaven.

Another Hindu festival marked to invoke good ancestral spirits is Bhoot Chaturdashi. This one is generally celebrated by Bengalis the night before Kali Puja by lighting 14 earthen lamps in every corner of the house to ward off evil spirits and to show the path to good ancestral ones. They also sprinkle water obtained after washing 14 leafy vegetables which are had for lunch and dinner. 

It is always valuable to know your roots. Indians are known for our grand celebrations whether it’s our wedding, birthday, Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Biswakarma Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. We always look for excuses to celebrate any occasion.

For the uninitiated, an auspicious period is beginning under the Hindu calendar - Pitru Paksha Shraddh. 

It is an occasion to pay respects to our ancestors. The 16-days fest started on September 5 and will end on September 19 this year. It is believed that it is during this time our ancestors come down to bestow their blessings upon us. It is the season to pay an ode to those deceased relatives and our forefathers. It is believed Shradh rites help liberate our souls from the circle of life and death.

Shraadh and its significance

According to Hindu mythology, the souls of our previous three generations reside in 'Pitru Loka', which is known as the realm between heaven and earth. This realm is headed by the god of death, Yama. It is believed when It is believed that when a person from the next generation dies, the first generation is taken to heaven bringing them closer to God. Only the last three generations in Pitru-Loka are given shraadha rites.

Before we dive into the rituals of the festival, let us go back to the times even before stone age existed where Gods' way was the high way.

Hindu scriptures during Mahabharata said when Karna died his soul was taken to heaven. Karna, known to be a charitable person, donated gold to the needy ones all his life. When he was sent to Heaven, he was only offered gold and jewels. However, Karna was looking for food to eat and so went on to talk to the lord of heaven, Indra, to inquire about the matter. This is when Indra told Karna that all throughout his life he had donated only gold to his ancestors during shradh, but never food. 

Soon realising his mistake, Karna said he never knew his ancestors and so he couldn't decide what to donate in their memory. And Karma was given a chance to amend his mistake and was granted to enter earth to perform shradh rites where he could donate food and water in their memory. Now, this 15-day period was named as Pitru Paksha.

DATES TO REMEMBER: 

September 24 - Purnima Shraddha - From the day after this full moon, the patriarch begins. 
September 25 - Pratipada - This day, the maternal grandfather is celebrated. Whether his date of death is known or not. 
September 26 - Second September 
September 27 - Tritiya 
September 28 - Chaturthi -  
September 29 - Panchami, Maha Bharni - Shraddha of unmarried members is done on the day of Panchni. 
September 30 - Satyam 
1 October        - Saptami 
2 October        - Ashtami - This day your father is made a Shraddha. 
3 October        - Navami - This day the Mother Shraddha is done. Also on this day, the ancestors of Shraddha, who died on the date of the twelfth day of both the Shukla and Krishna parties. 
4 October        - Dec 
5 October        - Ekadashi 
6 October        - Dvadashi
7 October        - Triodashi, Chaturdashi, Magha Shraddha - The death of the person who died after an accident on the date of Chaturdhi or After the death (suicide, tool killing) is done, whether his death has taken place at any other date. Also on this day, the Shraddha of children is also done. 
8 October       - Omniscient Amavasya - This is a very special day for the patriarch. It is also called Mahayana Shraddha. The person who is able to do Shraddha on the date given earlier can make Shraddha on this day. 

Puja rituals

The puja ritual is usually performed by the eldest son of the family. The ritual is performed after he showers and wears a ring made of 'kush' grass. The lush grass is used to invoke ancestors. Pind Daan, the ritual of offering rice, sesame seeds and balls made from barley flour is performed. While performing the holy ritual, three things should be kept in mind - piety, hastiness and anger. Two Brahmins are offered a new pair of clothes, fruits, sweets and 'Dakshina' (donation), as part of the offerings. The offerings or the 'daan' is believed that whatever is given to the Brahmins it reaches our ancestors. The ritual is believed to keep away any negative shadows and bring happiness to our family. So, let's celebrate this holy occasion to keep our friends, family, relatives close to our heart and take a moment to bow down to our ancestors who made it possible for us to live a wonderful life!