Shraddha on 13th tithi; for children and young ancestors

Trayodashi Shraddha is the Pitrupaksha rite of the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin. Besides ancestors who departed on a Trayodashi, it is set apart for children of the family who passed away young — in Gujarat it is known as Kakbali, and elsewhere as Bal Shraddha. A child's death leaves a particular grief, and tradition provides this day so that such souls, who never grew to have descendants of their own, are also remembered and nourished. The karta bathes, takes the sankalp with the sacred thread worn to the right, and in the aparahna offers tarpan of water and black sesame, pinda of cooked rice, and food to brahmins; many families also feed young children with sweets and milk in the departed child's name, and offer food to crows, which are held to carry offerings to the Pitru. When Trayodashi falls with Magha nakshatra it becomes Magha Trayodashi, doubly meritorious. The rite brings peace to the departed and is believed to protect the living children of the house.

The karta observes satvik purity; food is eaten only after it has been offered to the departed and brahmins.