Why Sri Lankans feed crows: belief, ritual, and memory

On the streets of Sri Lanka, a curious yet tender scene often unfolds: someone sets out rice or a small meal on a windowsill, on the ground, or by a temple. A few minutes later, crows—plentiful here—swoop in and finish every grain. It looks like casual bird-feeding, but the gesture carries far more weight than meets the eye.

A crow is more than a bird

In Sri Lanka, crows aren’t treated as ordinary city wildlife. Feeding them is seen as a kind, proper deed—one that can express respect for the departed or even reverence for the gods.

There is another layer to it. Local beliefs say that a person who behaves badly, especially one who shows disrespect to monks or temples, might be reborn as a crow or a dog. These birds, then, become more than neighbors with wings; they stand as reminders of right and wrong.

Why offer them food?

The custom isn’t unique to Sri Lanka. In India, during a special period called Pitru Paksha, people shape balls of rice and leave them for crows. The birds are regarded as messengers who carry these offerings to the souls of ancestors.

This practice is known as Kāka Bali. Ancient texts even describe deities who help deliver such offerings to the other world. For many, it isn’t just a ritual; it’s a way to keep a thread of connection with those who are no longer here.

Do crows get it?

Some studies suggest crows are remarkably intelligent. They remember people, can recognize faces, take offense, and even retaliate. So when someone feeds them regularly, they notice—and they tend to come back.

That gives the custom a disarmingly personal dimension: a generous act is registered, recalled, and, in a sense, answered. The exchange feels both spiritual and intimate, as if a small pact forms between person and bird.

Why it still matters

It’s easy to dismiss this as an old belief. Yet in a world where our ties to nature and tradition keep thinning, small, steady practices can be the ones that quietly hold us together. You don’t need to build a shrine or pore over ancient texts to honor your roots. Sometimes a handful of rice and a minute of stillness is enough.

As long as Sri Lankans keep sharing food with crows, they preserve an invisible but vital link between generations. And perhaps these birds really are a little special—there’s a reason so many people think of them as messengers between worlds.