The house crow occupies a special place in Hindu religious rituals. It is usually identified with departed souls or ancestors. Throughout the country, certain communities observe the ritual of ‘pinda pradhana’ (offering of cooked rice balls) to the crow, during ancestral worship. The crow is supposed to be a connection between the living world and the world of the dead.

Also, in traditional Hindu homes, the crow is offered a handful of rice first, before any meal.

The bird is also the vahana of Lord Saneeshwara (astrologically equated to Planet Saturn), one of the navagrahas or nine planets.