The two weeks before Navaratri is a sacred time referred to as Mahalaya Paksha or Pitr (or Pitru) Paksha. In this time, we honour our ancestors – we pray to them and for them as well. This practice is not familiar only to Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma. Variations of practices to honour our ancestors are present in oriental religions, at least and some traces are found in occidental religions.