पितृपक्ष/Pitru Paksha has started, customs can differ frm 1 place to another but in Maharashtra we offer Bhojan to Kak (crow). Befor someone makes fun of our tradition, I thought I shuld explain why we offer bhojan to crow
Please read my #Thread on Kakbhushundi & his significance

Kakbhushundi was greatest devotee. He was believed to be the first one to narrate the Ramayana even before sage Valmiki or Tulsidas. Kakbhushundi was mentioned by Tulsidas in Uttara & Bal Kanda of Ramcharitramanas

He is one of the Chiranjeevi's (immortal) till end of Kali Yuga

Kak means Crow, but he was not born as crow, he was born as a human being in Ayodhya, as a kid he was great devotee of Prabhu Ram, he was always keen to learn how to devote his Aradhyay Shree Ram. So he left for forest, whr he happened to meet Rishi Lomasa.

He asked Rishi Lomasa, how can I worship Shree Ram. He kept interrupting Rishi Lomasa to ask only about Ram, thus Rishi felt he was arrogant and inefficient of gaining the knowledge which is trying to impart, he said "you are extremely self-opinionated with distrust like crow"

Rishi Lomasa cursed him to acquire the form of Crow, he took the form of crow & left the ashram wid love for Shree Ram in his heart. But when Shree Ram came to know about this he requested Rishi Lomasa for forgiveness. Rishi realised his harsh behaviour & politely called him back

Rishi Lomasa taught him the meditation which Shree Ram use to perform as a child, Rishi imparted him the Mantra of Shree Ram and Rishi recited the entire Ramcharitramanas to Kakbhushundi. Rishi blessed him saying that devotion for Shree Ram shall always abide in your heart.

By now, Kakbhushundi had started loving his form as crow, where he could sing endless praises of Shree Ram and other birds could gather around him to listen. He decided to continue in form of a crow & not to return back to his human form. Shree Ram was impressed with his devotion

Shree Ram blessed him immortal life and vision to travel in time. With this boon he could stand outside the time & rewind the events from the past. He watched Ramayana 11 times & Mahabharata 16 times and surprisingly each time the story was different. Cycle of earth repeat itself

In today's world we call this phenomenon as parallel universe where a deceased human being is reborn in some other universe. Where the joys and sorrows of life can vary on the basis of Karma from the previous birth. Kakbhushundi controls the cycle of birth and rebirth.

By offering Bhojan to Kakbhushundi, it is believed that the departed souls achieve Moksha(Salvation) & are released from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Hence, during the month of Pitru Paksha, hindus offer bhojan to crow and pray for Moksha

Now you know the significance of crow

Today's modern science talks of quantum physics where we can travel in time, but our Hindu scriptures have explained this thousands of years ago. Recently I watched a series called Dark on Netflix which again talked about quantum physics and cycle of the earth.

Every Hindu tradition has deep meaning and a scientific reason behind it, its important to learn about our customs & pass on to the future generations.
Kagbhusandi Tal in Uttarakhand on the banks of Manasarovar, is believed to be the place whr Kakbhushundi resides

जय श्री राम