In India, culture and religion play an important part in our upbringing. We not only pay respect to our living elders but pay homage to our dead ancestors as well in several ways. And Pitru Paksha is one of those important periods, in which we perform certain rituals that are believed to get our dead ancestors peace and moksha (also known as liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth). It is believed that during this period, the dead ancestors visit their near and dear ones to accept the various food offerings.
ALSO READ: Starting from Bhadrapada Purnima, Pitru Paksha is a period of 16 days and ends on Mahalaya Amavasya. During this period people perform rituals like Shraddha, Tarpan and Pind Daan for their dead ancestors in which, food and water play an important role as they are said to satisfy their souls. This year, the Pitru Paksha starts from 29 September and ends on October 14. The Shraddha period is said to be extremely inauspicious in the Hindu religion, as we perform the death rites. Those who perform these rituals are often advised to observe the strict rules of Pitru Paksha and perform them in a proper manner.
Foods to avoid during Pitru Paksha
When it comes to food, there is a whole list which should be completely avoided while following the other rules. Here are some of the foods that are said to be banned during this period:
Needlessly, one should completely avoid non-vegetarian food, eggs and alcohol. However, during the Pitru Paksha, there are certain foods that the person performing these rituals must avoid such as: Chickpeas, black chana, masoor dal, black urad dal, black mustard seeds, cumin seeds, black salt, bitter gourd and cucumber, mustard greens etc. Along with these, any Tamasic food must be avoided during this period that includes - onion, garlic, and brinjals. Not just these, but there are some common foods that must be avoided like rice, wheat, chana sattu, potatoes, colocasia (arbi) and radish. It is also advised to avoid the consumption of Paan, Supari and tobacco. Also, it is extremely important to avoid consuming any stale food during this period.
end of article