पितृ पक्ष

Pitru Paksha

The sacred fortnight of remembrance

A time to honour and thank our ancestors — the pitrus — with Tarpan, Pind Daan, Shraaddh and Gau Puja. Offered at the Bangalore Ashram and the Bodh Gaya Ashram, Bihar: in person or online.

27 Sept to 10 Oct

श्राद्ध

“Honour your ancestors — receive their blessings.”

Tarpan · Pind Daan · Shraaddh · Gau Puja

Bangalore Ashram Bodh Gaya Ashram

The Significance

Why Pitru Paksha matters

01
Pitru Paksha is a sacred period dedicated to remembering and honouring our ancestors.
02
It is a time to express gratitude, perform traditional rituals such as Pitru Tarpan, Pind Daan and Shraaddh, and seek blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the family.
03
It reminds us to honour our roots, preserve family traditions, and maintain a spiritual connection with those who came before us.
04
Offer on the same tithi on which the ancestor's soul departed, or on any one of the days during Pitru Paksha.
05
It is said that during Tarpan the pitrus assume a form and accept the offerings, liberating them from unfulfilled desires.

Tarpan

Why offer

Pitru Paksha is that time of the year, when all days are equally auspicious to offer this rituals.

When

Usually Ancestral rites are allowed to perform only on the same tithi on which the ancestor's soul is departed.

Meaning

The word tarpan comes from the root trup, meaning "to satisfy". Pitru Tarpan is performed to remember and thank our ancestors and to receive their blessings — offering water, sesame and kusha grass with sacred mantras.

Blessings

It is said that during Tarpan the pitrus assume a form and accept the offerings, liberating them from unfulfilled desires.

Request a private event

Bodh Gaya Ashram · Bihar · In-Person

Pind Daan

There are many types of Pind Daan Puja, just as there are many types of Homas. At the Bodh Gaya Ashram we conduct the three most popular and common types.

Gaya Shraadh
When death is due to natural causes.
Tripindi Shraadh
When death is due to accidental causes.
Narayan Bali Shraadh
When the reason for death is unknown.

Other, less common Pind Daan pujas can also be arranged — reach out to the Bodh Gaya coordinator below. Gaya, Bihar holds historic importance for Pind Daan: Lord Ram performed the rite on the banks of the Phalgu river in the guise of his father, Lord Dasharatha.

Contact the Bodh Gaya coordinator →