Pitru Paksha 2024: Why One Must Donate Sesame Seeds During Shradh

Pitru Paksha falls in the month of Bhadrapada, which is a 16-lunar day period in the Hindu calendar. It is one of the auspicious times when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors through food offerings. People offer shradh and tarpan to their deceased ancestors. It is believed that this makes the ancestors’ souls happy. They shower blessings on the family. This tradition has been prevalent since ancient times and is also mentioned in the mythological epics Ramayan and Mahabharat.

Pitru Paksha will begin on Tuesday, September 17. During Pitru Paksha, people must indulge in charity and donations. People offer food, clothes and other necessary materials during this time. As per Bhopal resident and astrologer Pandit Yogesh Choure, one must donate sesame seeds during Pitra Paksha. Donating this will offer many benefits.

The astrologer has pointed out the benefits of donating sesame seeds-

• As per religious texts, sesame seeds are the food of ancestors. Hence, while offering tarpan to ancestors, one must include food, especially sesame seeds in it.

• If one is suffering from Pitra Dosh (due to the anger of the ancestors), then it is important to donate sesame seeds for 16 consecutive days during Shradh. By doing so, Pitra Dosh gets removed.

• It is said that if sesame seeds are donated to the ancestors during Pitra Paksha, they keep their blessings on you and your family.

• During Pitra Paksha, one must donate any kind of sesame seeds, whether white or black. However, as per the astrologer, donating black sesame seeds is considered to be auspicious.

• There is a religious belief that donating black sesame seeds to ancestors, helps them attain salvation and can help attain liberation.

Pitru Paksha will start from the Purnima Tithi (Full Moon) and end with the Amavasya Tithi (New Moon). It is a sacred time for performing Shradh rituals – meant to provide peace to the souls and attain liberation from earthly attachments. Generally, the eldest son or a male family member carries out these ceremonies. Pitru Paksha will conclude on October 2.