Pitru Paksha: A Sacred Bridge to Your Origins

Pitru Paksha is a sacred 15-day period of the Vedic calendar devoted to honouring the ancestors. According to the ancient scriptures, it is in these days that the boundaries between the worlds become especially thin, and our prayers, offerings and spiritual practices reach the ancestors in the most auspicious way. It is believed that during this period the ancestors accept the prayers of their descendants, bless them and help them free themselves from ancestral obstacles. That is why Pitru Paksha is the most auspicious time of the year to express gratitude to one's lineage, perform Vedic rituals and strengthen the spiritual connection with the ancestors. For this reason, for thousands of years in India these 15 days have been considered the most important time for practices devoted to the ancestors, and are observed annually by millions of people.

For those who want to strengthen the connection with their lineage, pray for departed relatives, become more deeply acquainted with the Vedic tradition and undertake a spiritual practice.

No. The programme suits both those who are only beginning to explore Vedic culture and those who are already walking the path of spiritual practice. All rituals, prayers and stages of the programme are explained in detail. You will receive the necessary materials, guidance and support, so you can participate with confidence even if you have had no such experience before. What matters most is a sincere wish to touch the ancient Vedic tradition and to spend this sacred period for the benefit of yourself and your lineage.

Yes. Online participants follow the same programme, receive materials and take part in the practices remotely. There is the possibility to join online broadcasts of all the ceremonies in the Ashram and to receive full support from the curators throughout the entire period of Pitru Paksha.

Participation in the programme is possible both in person and online. At the same time it is important to understand that the depth of the experience you receive largely depends on your personal involvement and readiness to follow the programme. If you come to the Ashram, we recommend attending, where possible, all the rituals, lectures and spiritual practices. It is precisely personal participation, attention and sincere engagement in the process that allow you to gain the maximum benefit from this sacred period. If, however, you are in the Ashram but miss a significant part of the programme, you of course keep the blessing of being in a holy place, yet the effect of the practice may be less deep. Online participation is also a full-fledged format. If you sincerely follow all the recommendations of the spiritual mentors, perform the practices and prayers and, where possible, join the broadcasts at the time when the ceremonies take place in the Ashram, your participation has the same spiritual value as being present in person. In spiritual practice the decisive factor is not a person's physical location but their sincerity, discipline, intention and degree of involvement. That is why participants who go through the programme online with full dedication receive the same experience and blessings as those who are in the Ashram. The main thing is to be inwardly engaged in the process and to treat the practice with respect.

Yes, of course. Knowledge of the full history of the lineage or the family tree is not a mandatory condition for participation. During the Pitru Paksha programme, prayers and rituals for the ancestors up to three generations are performed in the Ashram. You may name those relatives whom you know and remember. If information about your ancestors is lost or incomplete, this will not be an obstacle to participating in the programme.

Yes, it is especially important to pray for them.

The cost includes: participation in the rituals, materials for the offerings, dakshina for the brahmins, meals (for those in the Ashram). Paid separately: additional rituals and prayers for the ancestors, accommodation, transfer to the Ashram.

You will live in a true sanctuary — the Ashram of Deoraha Baba in Vrindavan. It is an oasis with a large green territory, temples and a goshala, blossoming beautiful gardens and an enormous variety of singing birds. A service is held daily in the Ashram. Monks, brahmins and Ashram attendants (sevaks) live here, and it is also the permanent home of our Guruji. On the grounds of the Ashram you will find: the Shiva Temple, the Machan of Deoraha Baba, the Samadhi Temple, the Yagyashala (fire temple), the Guruji's Tent (the place where Gurudev gives darshan), a park with benches where you can rest, the Bhandara (a common dining hall for all guests), and the Goshala — the place where our sacred cows live. You will live in the Ashram's guest building with separate comfortable rooms. Each room has a private bathroom, a bed and a table, and Wi-Fi is available. Electricity for charging a phone and Wi-Fi are available at certain hours. A common kitchen will be open in the building for programme participants, where you can store food in the refrigerator, eat and cook simple meals. In addition, vegetarian prasad is served three times a day in the Ashram for everyone.

After you submit an application to take part in the programme and make a donation for the programme, we will contact you shortly to choose and reserve a room for you! You can view the rooms in this file:

🇬🇧 Rooms catalogue (PDF)

Every day for all guests of the Ashram we offer traditional vegetarian prasad three times a day — this is sattvic vegetarian food offered to God. It is included in the cost of accommodation. During the retreat in the Ashram, food will be organised in a separate common kitchen for the convenience of the programme participants. There is also the possibility of delivering some products directly to the Ashram.

Closed and modest clothing (during this period the Ashram has warm summer weather, from +30 to +35°C); men also need clothing that covers the legs. Medicines (a basic first-aid kit), adapters, a power bank, personal hygiene items, bath towels, personal cutlery (if you prefer not to use shared ones). You may also bring currency with you and exchange it for Indian rupees in Vrindavan — we will show you where this can be done.

After completing the Pitru Paksha practice, many participants notice positive changes in various areas of life: improved health, career fulfilment, material well-being, inner growth and spiritual development. According to the Vedic tradition, sincere prayers and offerings made during this sacred period help bring benefit to our ancestors, strengthen the connection with our lineage and gain support in fulfilling the tasks we came into this incarnation with. In addition to the personal spiritual experience, participants gain a deep understanding of the Vedic rituals, master prayers and mantras, and acquire knowledge and skills for further independent spiritual practice.

All spiritual ceremonies are conducted by the brahmins in Sanskrit and Hindi; the programme guides help participants understand what is happening and provide translation into English and Russian. Satsangs with Guruji will be held in English with translation into Russian.

Yes, you may come with members of your family and other people. But it is very important to follow the rules of being on the grounds of the Ashram, to treat the traditions of this sacred place with respect, to observe the rules of stay in the Ashram and to follow the recommendations of the organisers.

The programme is open to everyone. There are no restrictions based on state of health or religious belief. According to Vedic rules, minors may participate on their own from the age of 12, but only on condition of a conscious decision and full immersion in the practice. Both practitioners of the Vedic tradition and people who are only beginning to explore it may take part. For participants of the in-person retreat, it is important to observe the rules of accommodation and conduct in the Ashram, to treat the traditions of this sacred place with respect and to follow the recommendations of the organisers.

Each person goes through the programme in their own way. For some it is a deep inner relief and a sense of connection with their lineage, for others a rethinking of life events, a strengthening of spiritual practice, or important changes that gradually manifest after the completion of Pitru Paksha. We cannot guarantee specific life events, but we create every condition for full participation in the ancient Vedic tradition.

Yes. If you have a sincere wish to receive darshan of Guruji or to take spiritual initiation (Guru-diksha) and become a disciple, our organisers will help arrange a personal meeting with Gurudev. During such a meeting you will be able to ask the questions that concern you, receive a blessing and, by mutual consent and readiness of both sides, accept the Guru as your spiritual mentor and enter the disciplic succession (parampara). It is important to understand that the decision about spiritual initiation is always made by Guruji himself. For our part, we create all the necessary conditions for the personal meeting and accompany participants on this path.