1. Refuse Food Or Water To Anyone, Never To A Stranger Even:
It is believed that during the Shraadh period, your ancestors visit your home. They may even come in disguise and thus, you should never ever refuse anyone food or water, even if they are a stranger to you!
2. Hurt Animals, Especially Crows And Dogs:
Though one should never hurt animals, it becomes all the more a sin to hurt animals during the Pitra Period. Animals, especially, crows and dogs, are offered the Pitra prasaad after the Shraadh, and that is why one should take extra precaution not to hurt these animals during the Pitra Paksh.
3. Consume Meat, Meat Products, Hard Drinks & Tobacco:
Consumption of any kind of meat or meat products or even egg is strictly prohibited during the Shraadh period. One should also abstain consuming hard drinks and products containing tobacco. Even the use of onions and garlic is prohibited, only pure saatvik food should be taken during this period. However, with time, many people don’t consider it to be important and thus, don’t follow this anymore.
4. Cut Your Nails Or Shave:
Pitra Paksh people is somewhat considered to be a ‘mourning period’ when we remember our loved ones, you should avoid any grooming activity. Cutting your nails or hair or shaving your beard should be avoided.
5. Buy New Clothes, Jewelry, Cars, and Property:
Hindus believe that buying clothes, jewelry, cars or property is a sign of happiness and celebration, and thus, they refrain from buying these things. Even if they buy these things before the Pitra Paksh period, but it still lies unused, they refrain from using it for the first time during this period and wait for Navratra to use those items.
6. Keep Auspicious Functions:
Auspicious activities like marriage, settling marriage, any kind of birth ceremony etc. should not be kept during this period.
7. Eat at Other’s Place:
It is believed that eating as guests at other’s place during the shraadh period will transfer the host’s Pitr to the guest. This eventually attaches the host’s pitr with the guest and he eventually falls in ‘salt-debt’ of the host, which can only be balanced by performing a remedial puja.
