As Pitru Paksha—the traditional Hindu period for honoring ancestors—approaches in 2026, many families are once again preparing for the elaborate annual Shraddha rituals.
However, in the view of Feng Shui and astrology scholar Ajit V. Khawad, people often get their priorities wrong: honoring departed loved ones should never be reduced to a mere checklist of rituals performed mechanically.
In the traditional calendar, Pitru Paksha spans approximately 16 lunar days, beginning as the moon wanes and culminating on Sarva Pitru Amavasya (the new moon day dedicated to all ancestors). Many families approach this period with trepidation, fearing that omitting a single step or mispronouncing a prayer might invite misfortune.
Khawad points out that this mindset completely misses the original intent. The true value of these 16 days lies in pausing one’s hectic life to reflect on one’s roots and to cherish the memory of the ancestors who once nurtured and supported the lives of their descendants. “Regardless of what we say or recall, the emotion underlying our actions is the only thing that truly matters.”
For instance, custom often dictates watering the peepal (sacred fig) and bargad (banyan) trees. While many treat this as a task to be ticked off a list, Khawad explains that these massive, evergreen trees were chosen because they symbolize the intricate, intertwined nature of ancestral lineage. When you carry a bucket of water to the tree and press your palms together in remembrance of your forebears, it is your reverence and sincerity—not the physical act of pouring water—that hold significance.
Above all, ancestor worship should be rooted in respect rather than fear.
In the rapid pace of modern life, the bonds between generations are eroding fast. Howard believes that rather than exhausting one’s energy on navigating complex ritual protocols, it is far better to transform this occasion into a heartfelt family conversation—with the older generation sitting in the living room, sharing stories with children who never met their forebears: recounting a great-grandfather’s temperament, a grandmother’s pivotal choices, and the family values and traditions that have endured through the passage of time.
Incense eventually burns out, and offerings are eventually cleared away. An ancestor’s place in family history is defined not by rigid rituals, but by whether their stories and the traces they left behind remain vividly alive in the memories of their descendants.