Pitru Paksha 2023: Why Black sesame Or Kala Til Is Offered To Deceased Ancestors

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Pitru Paksha is commonly known as Shradh Paksha as well and it falls after the Full Moon Day and marks the beginning of the waxing of the Lunar cycle. There is a belief that the souls of the ancestors reside in Pitrulok and they descend on earth during these 16 days of Pitru Paksha.

This year Pitru Paksha is starting on Friday, 29 September 2023. The process of Shradh will continue till Saturday, 14 October 2023. Pitru Paksha lasts from the full moon of Bhadrapada month to the new moon day of Ashwin month.

Every year, Hindus around the world observe Pitru Paksha, a 16-day period dedicated to paying homage to their ancestors and a crucial part of this observance is the use of Kala Til or black sesame seeds in the rituals. Through this post let us unravel the underlying significance of Kala Til during Pitru Paksha.

Pitru Paksha 2023: Why Black Sesame or Kala Til Is Offered To Deceased Ancestors
Black Sesame Seeds or Kala Til is believed to have the power to appease the souls of deceased ancestors, ensuring their blessings and goodwill. Its use in Pitru Paksha rituals symbolizes the act of feeding and satisfying these souls.

During Shradh, an essential Hindu ritual paying homage to ancestors, 'Kala Til', or black sesame seeds, hold a significant place. They symbolize the eternal relationship between the deceased souls and their descendants. These seeds are used in Shraadh rituals, particularly in the Pinda Daan.

How To Use Kala Til in Pitru Paksha? Significance

Pitru Paksha is known as an auspicious period and therefore, by using Kala Til people invoke their deceased ancestors who are believed to wander in Pitru Loka, a zone between earth and heaven during this phase. Mantras are also chanted which are believed to have specific positive energies and activate the black sesame seeds to start attracting ancestors to earth to accept the Pind Daan.

This phase involves offering of food balls mixed with Kala Til to departed souls. These seeds are considered an incarnation of Saturn, the lord of justice in astrology. By offering 'Kala Til', descendants seek forgiveness from departed souls for any unintentional omission of duties.

Another intriguing aspect is the resilience of black sesame seeds. They do not perish quickly; symbolically it depicts that the homage's sanctity remains intact despite the passage of time. These tiny Sarvasastra Naashak (destroyer of all ills) symbolize our profound respect for the departed souls.

It is said that Black sesame seeds can also absorb negative energy that is present in the atmosphere and inside the body and therefore, this ingredient is used as a cleansing agent in spirituality.

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