Pitrpaksha

The fortnight (paksha) dedicated to the
worship of the ancestral spirits (pitr),
observed in the dark (waning) half of the
lunar month of Ashvin. This is the period
during the year in which Hindus
remember and give offerings for their
dead: offerings of water and rice-balls
(pinda) on each day of the fortnight, and
as well as special observances on the
day of the fortnight corresponding to
the day of the ancestor’s death. These
offerings are believed to sustain the
dead by symbolically feeding them, and
also to placate the dead by demonstrating that the living still remember and
care for them.
Because of its strong connection
with the dead, this fortnight is generally
considered an inauspicious time, and
people often restrict their everyday
activities in symbolic recognition of it.
Many people will not cut their hair,
beards, or nails during this time, nor will
they wear new clothes. These precautions stem from the conviction that
making alterations in one’s appearance
during an inauspicious time will have
adverse future affects, since it will carry
the taint forward. Many people also curtail other normal activities during this
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Pitr
During Pitrpaksha, Hindus offer rice balls and water to their ancestors.
time, such as buying any article or initiating any new project, unless it is
absolutely necessary. The period is also
deemed a good time for religious observances, particularly giving gifts (dana)
to brahmins. On the one hand this is a
way to propitiate the ancestors, whom
the brahmins represent, and thus whatever is given to brahmins is given symbolically to the ancestors. On the other
hand, giving such gifts is also a rite of
protection against misfortune in an
inauspicious time, since the receiver is
believed to take away the bad luck along
with the gift.