Wed Sep 18 07:13:54 UTC 2024: ## Pitru Paksha 2024 Begins: Honoring Ancestors with Rituals and Offerings
**New Delhi, India** – Pitru Paksha, a period of ancestor worship, commenced on September 18th, Wednesday. This important Hindu festival, which spans 16 lunar days, calls for rituals such as Tarpan (water offerings), Daan (charity), and Shraddha (ceremonial meals) to appease the spirits of departed ancestors.
According to tradition, ancestors reside on Earth during Pitru Paksha, and those who offer them these rites are blessed with their favor. Neglecting these rituals can incur the wrath of ancestors, leading to Pitru Dosha, a karmic debt associated with misfortune and hardship for family members.
To ensure ancestral blessings and appease them during this period, devotees can perform various rites and practices. One effective remedy is the daily recitation of Pitru Suktam, a sacred hymn dedicated to ancestors.
This year, Hindus are encouraged to engage in these rituals with sincerity and devotion, seeking the blessings of their ancestors for a prosperous year ahead.
First Piper 