What is the relevance of Pitri Paksha
or
Pitra Paksha? How pitra Paksha is performed?
Pitri paksha is known to be one of the most important festivals followed by Hindus. According to the English calendar this festival falls during September-october month on the fortnight of Ashvina.The other very common name for pitri paksha is Mahalaya paksh. It is considered to be a divine occasion in which some rituals are performed for the departed ancestors so that their souls can be kept obliged. Pitra paksha is basically performed for those relatives of the last three generations.
What is pitra paksha?
This occasion is celebrated in order to repay the debt to the departed ancestors by performing the rituals. A ritual named as shraddh is also performed as in Hindu society people believe that if they want to keep the souls of their relatives and loved ones at peace then this ritual must be performed. According to the Hindu religion the dead ones are called by the name “pitris” and thus the name of the occasion is called as pitri paksha. From the very first day of the month of ashwin pitru paksha is performed and it lasts upto Amavasya day. This goes on for around 15 days and all rituals are performed in the remembrance of the ancestors.
According to the Hindu religion it is said that there are some debts on every individual. These are three debts namely, Rishirina which is considered to be the guru’s debt, devarina which is known as Gods Debt and Petranina which is considered to be the Forefathers debt. The holy places in India where these rituals are performed are haridwar,badrinath,Varanasi and othe places as these places have their own relevance.
This ritual of shraddh is performed by the son or a male who is elder most in the family. When shraddh is performed then it is said in Hindu religion that the dead ones have attained position in Pitri –Loka.
The person who performs this ritual has to keep a fast till the whole process of pitri paksha is performed and after that only the entire family takes the prasada in the form of food.
It is considered very essential to give food to the needy and poor people during the ritual of shraadh as it is said that whatever you donate directly reaches to the ancestors.
