I’m delighted to invite you to our upcoming weekend course

The Sacred Rituals of Pitru Paksha 

Honoring The Ancestors & Lord Shiva Through Traditional Mantra Practice

With Gitte Bechsgaard RP PhD CIYT-III

September 26-27th, 2026 

8:00am-9:30 am PDT | 11:00am-12:30pm EDT | 4:00-5:30pm BST | 5:00-6:30pm CEST

Registration: 120USD   |  80 Participant Limit

“Do not neglect the truth.

Do not neglect dharma.

Do not neglect your health.

Do not neglect your well-being.

Do not neglect learning and recitation of the Veda.

Do not neglect your duties to the gods and to your forefathers”

– Taitirrya Upanishad

Pitru Paksha is a 16-day lunar period in the Vedic calendar when spiritual seekers pay homage to their ancestors. 

Traditional rituals accomplish this through a variety of approaches, including specific mantras, food offerings, and reflection practices. 

Named shraddh in Sanskrit, the ritual itself is used to seek blessings and forgiveness from the ancestors. 

These rituals are likewise said to free the souls, and allow healing for all.

During this year’s weekend course, you’ll explore the depth beneath this festival as well as ways to partake in these auspicious traditions. 

Integrative studies will uncover the means through which the planet Saturn and the Maha Dev Lord Shiva are closely linked to this traditional ancestral worship in India. 

As Saturn is about to complete a 30 year cycle in our lives, this year in Revati nakshatra, you’ll participate in a honed in focus on this important period for spiritual sadhana. 

In order to align with Saturn’s culminating period, sadhakas perform specific practices throughout the year. Such practices are laid out during next weekend’s course. 

Since the festival itself begins on the 26th you will have the opportunity to prepare all that you might need for the ritual and mantra sadhana.