Pumpkin, traditionally served with puris during Pitru Paksha, holds a profound spiritual and energetic significance. It is offered to dogs, crows, and ancestors for a reason — and its role goes far beyond ritual.
Pumpkin is a food dense in energy yet low in calories. Biologically, it has a calming effect on the mind and body — much like the sense of peace you feel at your grandparents’ house. Remember that feeling of deep, satisfying sleep when you know someone is taking care of you? Pumpkin works similarly on your subconscious. It nourishes the mind, induces calm, and provides peace without spiking energy levels.
When our energy is low, fear and restlessness arise. By offering nutrient-rich foods like pumpkin — to yourself and your ancestors — the body and mind experience stability, calm, and protection. During Pitru Paksha, this act of donation multiplies energy from the cosmos into your life.
Tip: Based on your personal chart, specific foods and actions can help resolve ancestral karma. To identify these, consider a Pending Karma Reading, available exclusively during Pitru Paksha.
Pumpkin and Universal Synchronicity
As the Sun transits through Leo, the sign of extreme energy and vitality, the universe aligns in fascinating ways. Around the world, after Pitru Paksha ends, Halloween is celebrated — the festival of ghosts in Celtic traditions. Here, too, pumpkins play a central role:
- They are carved into lanterns to ward off evil spirits.
- Historically, Irish farmers offered pumpkins to spirits to protect themselves and their homes.
- This cross-cultural similarity is astounding — two different civilizations, separated by geography and time, chose the same food as a medium to honor ancestors and ward off negative forces.
This synchronicity highlights how the universe aligns human practices with cosmic energy, allowing us to uplift ourselves through disciplined rituals. Interestingly, Halloween occurs about a month after Pitru Paksha, which may explain why the tropical zodiac aligns better with Western countries, where the influence of sunlight and geographical location shapes energy patterns differently.
Practical Guidance for Pitru Paksha
This Thursday, during Pitru Paksha, make sure to donate pumpkin to your ancestors.
- If fresh pumpkin is unavailable, look for pumpkin-based foods — soups, sweets, or dishes.
- After offering it to your ancestors, consume the pumpkin yourself to absorb its energy.
- This simple act can transform the flow of energy in your life, helping resolve ancestral influences and promote harmony.
Through these rituals, the universe reminds us that discipline, offerings, and awareness can unlock energy, protection, and blessings from the cosmic realms.