Is it necessary to hire a pandit, or can we perform Pitrupaksha rituals ourselves?

The Sankalpa and core mantras of Pitrupaksha require the correct Sanskrit recitation and knowledge of which invocations are required for each specific ritual. A learned pandit ensures the ceremony is performed without procedural errors. Families are welcome to actively participate — in fact, participation is encouraged — but having a pandit guide the process greatly reduces the risk of unintentional omissions that might invalidate the offering.