As you all know Pitru Paksha is a fifteen lunar day period. According to Hindu tradition, this period is known as the ancestral remembrance period. This duration mostly falls in September or October month, the exact duration varies every year due to tithi according to Hindu calendar. During this duration people perform Tarpan, Shradh and Pind dan for their ancestors to seek their blessings. In other words it is described as a period when we pay homage through Shradh with prayer and food offerings for our ancestors. Offering of food has an important place in Shradh traditions. There are so many rules to be followed while making and offering food for these rituals. There are different procedures of offerings in different regions but the feeling of performing these rituals are the same.

 Shradh is becomes part of religious observance involving:

• Respect for ancestors
• Sincerely performing the rituals
• Following the family traditions
• Charity
• Offerings

There are certain rules that must be followed by everyone while This period:

• Cleanliness: cleaning your home is very important for energy flow in home that will boost the environment in performing the rituals sincerely. Every corner of the house should be clean, well organised and clutter free.
• Favourable space for rituals: One should take care that the place where the rituals are to be performed must be facing towards the South and in the South direction at home. Keep this area neat and clean and in an organised way.
• Offerings: The food cooked for rituals must be hygienically cooked in brass utensils or mud pot as these are considered as auspicious for these rituals. And offerings must be offered towards the South direction and the person who is performing the rituals must face towards the South direction while offering.
• Vessels: Use Copper or silver vessels while performing Shradh rituals. These metals are considered pure for spiritual rituals.
• Simple wearing: As light shades are known for calm, peace and purity. One should wear clothes of light colour while performing the rituals. It helps in creating positive thought and environment at home.
• Mantra Chanting: One should practice chanting of mantras like “Gayatri mantra” or “Om Namah Shivay” to create a positive and serene environment. It will also strengthen your positive thoughts and help you in performing these rituals sincerely.

The diet we should follow while this fortnight are as follows:

• Fresh food: Fresh food made up of fresh and clean vegetables are generally preferred for Shradh observances. Dishes made up of fresh vegetables are to be consumed during Shradh Paksha.
• Rice: It is commonly used across India for Shradh. It may be used as giving daan to priests, used in making pind for shradh, used in making rice pudding (kheer). In some traditions some sweet dishes are also made for offerings.
• Milk, Ghee and Curd: These are the foods that are considered as sattvic food. One can have these while Shradh Paksha. And are also used while preparing offerings for ancestors.
• Fruits: One can also have fruits while this paksha as banana, apple, guava, coconut, papaya and many more.
• Wheat or Millets: According to their tradition one can also have chapattis made up of atta or any other dishes made of atta and millets.
• Sabudana and Makhana: These two items are considered as sacred food having this duration or the dishes made up of these ingredients.
• Rock salt: Food cooked while Pitru Paksha for offerings or to eat must be cooked with rock salt(Sendha Namak).
• Homemade food: One can only have food prepared at home with cleanliness and fresh food items.
• Pulses: Mostly moong dal is used in such type of rituals but people can use dal according to their customs and traditions followed by their family and religion.

Food that can be avoided while Pitru Paksha are:

• Non-veg: Non vegetarian food should be avoided during this paksha as it is considered as Tamsik Bhojan.
• Onion and Garlic: These two vegetables are avoided since our ancestors were alive during fasting and any type of sacred activity performed. As these two are also considered as Tamsik food items.
• Spicy and Fried food: One should have simple and boiled food during these duration. As these types of food are difficult to digest and it may create health issues. And it is also believed that simple food helps in paying attention towards performing the rituals.
• Pulses: During this period of time in many traditions some pulses are avoided like – masoor, urad dal, rajma, black grams and many other pulses.

During Shradh specifically there are some common food items that are followed by most of the traditions like – rice, dal, vegetables, kheer, puri and other sattvic food items are prepared but the main menu is dependent on the family traditions that are being followed by our elders.

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