Pitru Paksha in Different Parts of India: Traditions Across Regions

Akanksha Tiwari

Sep 13, 2025, 12:18 IST

Pitru Paksha, the 16-day period to honor ancestors, is observed differently across India. In Gaya, pilgrims perform pinda daan; in Varanasi, tarpan on the Ganga is sacred. South India emphasizes simple offerings, Maharashtra feeds crows as ancestral messengers, while Bengal marks Pitru Paksha with tarpan and Mahalaya, blending remembrance with devotion.

Prayagraj, Sep 07 (ANI): Devotees perform the ritual for the salvation of their ...

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Pitru Paksha, the 16-day lunar period dedicated to honoring ancestors, is a deeply significant observance in Hindu tradition. Families across India perform rituals such as tarpan, pinda daan, and charity to ensure peace for the departed souls. While the essence of Pitru Paksha remains the same everywhere, expressing gratitude and seeking blessings from ancestors, the traditions vary beautifully across regions, reflecting India’s cultural diversity.

Gaya, Bihar: The Pinnacle of Pinda Daan

Rituals of pitru paksha

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Gaya is considered the most sacred site for performing pinda daan. According to legend, Lord Rama visited Gaya to perform the rituals for his father, King Dasharatha. Even the Vishnupad Temple, where Lord Vishnu is believed to have left his footprint, adds divine sanctity to the rituals. Pilgrims from across India gather here during Pitru Paksha, offering rice balls (pindas), sesame seeds, and water at the Falgu River to liberate their ancestors’ souls and grant them moksha.

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Tarpan on the Holy Ganga

Ganges Offering

Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world, holds immense significance for Pitru Paksha rites. On the banks of the Ganga, devotees perform tarpan by offering water mixed with black sesame seeds, rice, and kusha grass. Priests chant mantras to invoke the blessings of ancestors, while the sacred river is believed to carry the offerings to the divine realm. Performing shraddha here is thought to free ancestors from the cycle of rebirth.

South India: Rituals of Gratitude and Simplicity

Prayagraj, Sept 09 (ANI): People perform rituals to pay homage to their deceased...

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In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, Pitru Paksha is observed with simple but heartfelt offerings. Families prepare traditional foods like rice, lentils, vegetables, and sweets, which are first offered to the ancestors and then shared with Brahmins or the poor. In Karnataka, the ritual is called Pitru Tarpana and often includes reciting Vedic hymns. In Tamil households, banana leaves are used to serve the offerings, symbolizing purity and humility.

Maharashtra: Feeding Crows as Ancestral Messengers

Crows

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Maharashtrian families observe Pitru Paksha with special emphasis on feeding crows, who are believed to be messengers of the ancestors. Food prepared for the rituals is first offered to crows; if they eat it, it is seen as a sign that the ancestors have accepted the offering. Families also prepare traditional dishes like puran poli and varan bhaat, making the ritual a blend of devotion and community sharing.

West Bengal and Eastern India: Tarpan with Faith

In West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam, Pitru Paksha rituals are performed with great devotion, often called Tarpan. On the banks of rivers like the Hooghly or Brahmaputra, devotees offer water mixed with black sesame seeds, rice, and flowers to honor their ancestors. In Bengal, this practice aligns closely with Mahalaya, the day marking the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Durga Puja preparations. Chanting hymns to invite Goddess Durga also symbolizes invoking divine blessings for both ancestors and the living.

Unity in Diversity of Faith

Though the rituals differ, from pinda daan in Gaya to crow-feeding in Maharashtra, or the solemn tarpan in Bengal, the heart of Pitru Paksha remains the same everywhere: remembering one’s ancestors with gratitude and devotion. This observance beautifully reflects India’s cultural diversity while uniting people in a shared belief that honoring the past paves the way for peace and blessings in the present.

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