Bhubaneswar, 8 September (H.S.): The sacred fortnight of Pitru Paksha, dedicated to paying homage to ancestors, commenced on Monday and will continue for 15 days until Mahalaya. Devotees across Odisha performed rituals such as Til Tarpan (offering of sesame water) and Pinda Daan (rice-ball offerings) to honour their forefathers.

At Srikshetra, Puri, thousands of devotees gathered at holy water bodies including Mahodadhi, Shwetaganga, Markanda, Indradyumna, and Narendra ponds, where priests conducted the age-old rites. Similar scenes were witnessed in Bhubaneswar, where devotees thronged Bindu Sagar to perform Pinda Daan with reverence.

According to traditional belief, the souls of ancestors descend to the earthly realm during Pitru Paksha to bless their descendants. The fortnight concludes on Mahalaya, after which the ancestors are bid farewell during Diwali, with the saying that “they arrive in darkness and depart in light.”

On the opening day, several families across the state performed Shraddha rituals at temples and sacred sites, offering prayers for peace and liberation of their departed relatives’ souls. Priests noted that the observance of Pitru Paksha has remained an enduring spiritual practice, symbolising gratitude, remembrance, and the eternal bond between generations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda