This Pitru Paksha feed a Sadhu to honour your ancestors

When Pitru Paksha begins, it is believed in Hinduism that the veil between worlds becomes thinner. It is a time when our ancestors descend and draw nearer to accept offerings from us, their descendants. 

During this fortnight, it is the wandering ascetics, the Sadhus, who have renounced worldly ties, who become the living embodiment of our ancestors. Offerings made to these holy men and women are said to reach our ancestors and ripple across generations as blessings.

This year, Pitru Paksha falls between 7th September and 21st September

Join hands with Shri Mateshwari Annakshetra to provide sustenance to those who carry your ancestors' blessings. It is your chance to pay homage to your ancestors. 

“The beauty of Pitru Paksha is knowing that it could be that frail, old man sitting under a tree chanting or the woman with silver hair who is lost in penance…who is carrying the souls of our ancestors. To offer food and water to them is an opportunity to cleanse ourselves of sins and receive abundant blessings,” a member of Shri Mateshwari Annakshetra says, smiling.

Every year, thousands of Sadhus gather in pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, Uttarkashi, Gangotri, and Rishikesh for penance during Pitru Paksha. No food, no money, no family, the Sadhus go on with just a prayer on their lips and a lifetime of renunciation behind them. They walk barefoot across harsh terrains, all in pursuit of the divine truth. They depend on strangers to ease their thirst and hunger. If they are not offered food, they simply go hungry. But Shri Mateshwari Annakshetra is working to change that.

For the past 18 years, Shri Mateshwari Annakshetra has been offering food, basic amenities, and medicines to Sadhus in the Himalayas. This Pitru Paksha, they aim to provide warm meals and clean drinking water to 1,500 Sadhus every day during this auspicious fortnight. But they can’t do this on their own.

Your donation can help them provide sustenance to the Sadhus

A little help from you can go a long way. Your contribution, big or small, can help Shri Mateshwari Annakshetra procure access to clean drinking water and the groceries needed to provide the Sadhus with nourishing meals. 

About the NGO: Shri Mateshwari Annakshetra Samiti has been selflessly serving Himalayan Sadhus for over 18 years. From Rishikesh to the remote regions of Uttarkashi and Gangotri, they provide daily meals, medicines, warm clothing, blankets, and other essentials to Sadhus surviving extreme mountain conditions. With dedicated convoys reaching remote locations every two weeks, the trust ensures no Sadhu is left without support.