TV
‘Pitru Paksha’ has a unique significance in each household of Odisha as this period is dedicated to the ancestors.
‘Pitra Paksha’ starts on the ‘Krusha Pakhya’ Pratipada Tithi of Odia month Ashwina and ends on Amabasya every year. This year, the ‘Pitra Paksha’ started today and it will end on October 14.
“Basically, the ‘Pitra Paksha’ in a Hindu Calendar is a certain period when people worship their ancestors. By engaging in Tarpanam and Shradh rites, individuals pay respect to their deceased relatives during this time,” said Jagannath culture expert Surya Narayan Rathsharma.
The Tarpanam method is believed to be performed to satisfy the ancestors. The Shraddha process cannot be completed without feeding the Brahmin. According to religious doctrine, Pitru Dosha gets expelled from a person’s horoscope if they honour their ancestors during the Pitru Paksha.
As per legends, the waning phase of the lunar cycle officially begins with the Pitru Paksha, which starts the day after the full moon. It is a time of about 15 days that is quite important. The dead relatives and ancestors are honoured through rituals like Tarpan/Tarpanam and Sharadh.
According to popular belief, by engaging in the Pinda Dana, people are able to fill the thirst and assuage the hunger of the ancestors while ensuring that they achieve Moksha (salvation).
Hundreds of people throng Puri to offer ‘Pinda Dana’ at holy Pancha Tirtas and Narendra pond in Puri on the occasion of Pitru Paksha. Beautification work is currently being undertaken at Markendeya pond, Narendra pond, Sweta Ganga, and Indradyumna pond.
Several servitors and residents have demanded the immediate completion of the work as hundreds of people will offer their rituals at these holy ponds on the occasion of Pitru Paksha. Moreover, thousands of Habisyalis will perform Kartika Bratas after taking baths in these holy ponds in the coming holy month of Kartika. Hence, demands have gone shriller to expedite the ongoing beautification work.
“As I have small children at home, I have come to Puri to offer Pinda Dana to our ancestors. However, the environment is not suitable here to perform the special rituals due to the ongoing beautification work,” said Sibaram Pati, a visitor.
“The administration is not maintaining cleanliness at the holy ponds. We are facing a lot of problems while performing the rituals here. The holy month of Kartika is also coming and there will be a huge rush of devotees here. We request the administration to expedite the beautification work and finish it at the earliest,” said Sibaram Pati, a priest.
However, Puri Sub-Collector Bhabataran Sahu said that proper arrangement has been made near the holy ponds to offer Pinda Dana.
“All kinds of necessary arrangements have been made near the holy ponds in Puri for the convenience of visitors to offer special rituals on the occasion of Pitru Paksha,” said Sahu.
