STOP! Avoid These 10 Mistakes During Pitru Paksha for Good Fortune

Pitru Paksha is a sacred 16-day period to honour ancestors. Avoid common mistakes to receive blessings, peace, prosperity, and divine grace.

Pitru Paksha is a sacred 16-day period in Hindu tradition when we honor our ancestors and seek their blessings. According to Sanatangyan wisdom, this time strengthens the connection between the living and those who have passed away. But are you aware that neglecting simple practices during Pitru Paksha—like keeping broken items, ignoring rituals, or allowing negativity at home—can block prosperity and peace? Following the guidance of the Shastras and the teachings of sadhus and gurus is important. Avoiding these mistakes helps keep Pitru Paksha sacred. It also brings peace and harmony to your home. Your family can receive divine blessings and good fortune for generations.

The Spiritual Significance of Pitru Paksha

Pitru Paksha, according to the Garuda Purana and other Vedic Shastras, is the time when our ancestors visit the earthly world. It is believed that they bless those who sincerely perform Shraddha, Tarpan, and food offerings. The Sanatangyan philosophy believes in linking the different periods of time - past, present, as well as future. It is the spiritual growth that is achieved by remembering the descendents that is the most profound, and not the performance of the duty religiously. The Garuda Purana Preta Khanda, 4.9 says:

“श्राद्धमेकं पितॄन तृप्तं तृप्ताश्चैव दिवौकसः।

तृप्ताः सर्वाणि भूतानि तस्मात् श्राद्धं प्रशस्यते॥”

Translation: “By a single Shraddha, ancestors are satisfied; when they are satisfied, the gods are satisfied, and when the gods are satisfied, all beings are nourished. Hence Shraddha is most praiseworthy.”

This period serves as a reminder of the life that is being lived and the gratitude that needs to be paid to the ancestors and the blessings that flows and performing Shraddha and Tarpan strengthens the bonds that are lineage. It offers progression spiritually to the both the present living and the deceased people.

10 Mistakes to Avoid During Pitru Paksha

1. Do Not Keep Broken or Damaged Items

The Garuda Purana mentions that during Pitru Paksha broken utensils, torn photos, and broken images are considered inauspicious. Offering food in cracked or broken utensils can upset ancestors. It is also believed to block wealth and harmony in the home. Before the fortnight begins, remove broken or rusty items from your home.

“यथा पात्रे तथा दाने” - (Garuda Purana)

“The vessel used reflects the purity of the offering.”

So, make sure to remove all broken objects from your home before Pitru Paksha starts. Keeping your home clean and whole creates a positive environment for the rituals.

2. Avoid Withered or Dead Plants

Dead plants attract stagnation and negativity. Replace them with fresh, green plants. A thriving plant during Pitru Paksha symbolises growth and divine blessings.

3. Don’t Ignore the Timing of Rituals

Each ancestor has a specific tithi (date) which is meant to be observed. Not performing it is believed to interrupt their journey. It is said that in the case of siblings living a part, each is obligated to perform Shraddha, while in one place, the oldest performs it on behalf of the rest.

"तस्मात्समये श्राद्धं कृत्वा पितॄणां सुखावहम्।" - (Manu Smriti 3.122)

 Translation: “Performing Shraddha at the right time brings peace and happiness to the ancestors.”

4. Avoid Neglecting the Tarpan Ceremony

Tarpan, the offering of water to ancestors, is one of the most important rites. Flowing water is believed to carry the offering to their realm. Neglecting this ritual blocks spiritual merit.

“पितृभ्यः स्वधा नमः” - ( Rigveda )

Salutations with offerings to the ancestors.

Forgetting tarpan weakens the blessings that flow to the family.

5. Don’t Criticise or Disregard Traditions

Some people today may ignore these practices. But sadhus and scholars say that Pitru Paksha rituals have deep spiritual and psychological significance. Making fun of them is considered disrespectful to both our ancestors and Dharma.

“एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः।” - Bhagavad Gita (3.16)

“He who does not follow the eternal cycle of duties lives in vain.”

6. Avoid Household Negativity

It is believed that during that time is Pitru Paksha, the deceased ancestors can descend and visit their living families. Arguments and specially the presence of any negativity, the home, becomes a place of no hospitality and rather, for unwanted. It is said that in such a case, peace must be kept in the house and one must chant mantras and create a devotional mood.

"शान्तिः पितॄणां प्रियं सर्वं, कलहो दुःखकारकः।" - (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva)

 Translation: “Peace brings joy to the ancestors, while quarrels bring them sorrow.”

7. Don’t Forget Food and Water Offerings

It is said that any of the ancestors are offered kheer, puri, or rice with the believe that they will reach them. There are good deeds that are set aside for that which involve, in their names, feeding the cows, the dogs or the birds.

8. Do Not Keep Stopped or Broken Clocks

Clocks represent the flow of time. A broken or stopped clock symbolises stagnation. Keeping them during Pitru Paksha is considered inauspicious.

9. Avoid Overlooking Spiritual Texts

Reading sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita or Vishnu Purana during Pitru Paksha increases spiritual merit. The Shastras also say that just listening to these texts benefits the departed souls. Ignoring this practice is like missing a direct path to blessings.

10. Don’t Let the Home Fall into Disorder

Cleanliness is very important. During Pitru Paksha, your home should be pure and well-kept. Mess and filth can stop ancestors from entering the house. This may prevent their blessings from reaching your family.

“शुचिः पवित्रः भव” - ( Rigveda )

“Be clean, be pure.”

Keeping your home sacred brings prosperity to your family. It also provides protection and peace for everyone living there.

Pitru Paksha, for example, is a unique time when we can remember our ancestors and also seek their blessings. It is the devotion with which you following Sanatangyan, Shastras, and sadhus and gurus teachings that can avoid grave oversights, having peace, peace, and a flourishing in spiritual development. Rituals performed, home maintained with clean with positivity, and devotion to the observance of the rituals brings you closer to our ancestors, and also welcomes blessings into your life.