الوصف

Pitru Paksha (Sanskrit: पितृ पक्ष), also speltas Pitru paksha or Pitri paksha, (literally 'fortnight of theancestors') is a 16–lunar day period when Hindus pay homage totheir ancestors (Pitrs), especially through food offerings. Theperiod is also known as Pitru Pakshya, Pitri Pokkho, Sola Shraddha('sixteen shraddhas'), Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya Paksha and Aparapaksha.
Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious, given thedeath rite performed during the ceremony, known as Shraddha ortarpan. In southern and western India, it falls in the Hindu lunarmonth of Bhadrapada (September–October), beginning with the fullmoon day (Purnima) that occurs immediately after the Ganeshfestival and ending with the new moon day known as Sarvapitriamavasya, Pitru Amavasya, Peddala Amavasya, Mahalaya amavasya orsimply Mahalaya.
The autumnal equinox falls within this period, i.e. the Suntransitions from the northern to the southern hemisphere duringthis period. In North India and Nepal, this period corresponds tothe dark fortnight of the month Ashvin, instead ofBhadrapada.