Shradh is a Hindu ritual performed to honor and offer respect to ones ancestors. The following are some of the things to do and not to do during Shradh:

Dos:

• Offer food items such as curry of pulses, rice, buttermilk, kheer of broken rice grains, vada puris, freshly made mango or lime pickle, and metkut.
• Use cow milk, curd, or ghee for the pooja and food preparations.
• Use silverware in Shradh rituals.
• Offer barley, peas, and mustard.
• Feed Brahmins.
• Offer food to the poor and needy people.
• Keep a small portion of the prepared meal for cows, dogs, crows, and ants, separately.
• Wear white clothing if you are the performer of the Shradh.
• Take a purifying bath beforehand and wear a dhoti if you are the male performer of the Shradh.
• Circumambulate the Brahmins and pay obeisance to them.

Donts:

• Do not brush your teeth on the day of the Shradh or fast. However, rinsing the mouth with water is permitted.
• Do not eat twice, lie, gamble, use violence, travel, or be in the company of a woman on the day and previous night of the Shradh.
• Do not leave your hair free, laugh, cry, chat, or engage in unholy talk if you are a woman.
• Do not ring a bell while the Shradh rites are in progress.
• Do not cut your nails, beard, or hair, or wear dirty clothes if you are the performer of the Shradh.
• Do not use products made of leather such as belts, wallets, or shoes while performing rituals.
• Do not stop chanting mantras to talk to anyone if you are performing Shradh rituals and chanting mantras.
• Do not consume alcohol, chew tobacco, or smoke cigarettes during Shradh.
• Do not lie, use harsh words, or curse others.
• Do not buy or wear new clothes during the Shradh period.
• Do not enter a new house, start a new business or venture, or celebrate a birthday during this fortnight.
• Do not put new material things in the house, such as new cars, during this period.
• Do not wash clothes on the day of Pitru Paksha Shradh.
• Do not perform Shradh Karma du...