Pitru Paksha (also called Shraddha Paksha) is a 16-day period in the Hindu calendar dedicated to honoring one's ancestors (pitrs). Families perform Shradh — rituals of remembrance and offering — to express gratitude, seek blessings, and ensure the peace of departed family members' souls. It's one of the most significant periods for connecting with family history and lineage.
When is Pitru Paksha 2026
September 27 – October 10, 2026
Pitru Paksha begins on Bhadrapada Purnima and ends on Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya) — the 16-day "fortnight of the ancestors" immediately preceding Navratri.
What is Shradh
Shradh is a ritual performed to honor deceased ancestors — typically parents, grandparents, and other family elders — through offerings of food, water, and prayers. The word comes from "shraddha" (faith), reflecting the devotion with which descendants remember those who came before them. Shradh is traditionally performed on the tithi (lunar date) corresponding to the ancestor's death anniversary, falling within Pitru Paksha.
Who Can Perform Shradh
- Traditionally, the eldest son performs Shradh for parents — but this is not a strict requirement
- In the absence of sons, daughters, grandsons, or other close relatives can and do perform these rituals — many families have updated this practice
- If no family member is available or able, a Brahmin priest can perform Shradh on the family's behalf
- Married women generally perform Shradh for their own parents (not in-laws) on a separate date if needed
- The specific tithi for each ancestor is the most important factor — families maintain a record of death anniversaries by lunar date for this reason
Shradh Samagri List
Step-by-Step Shradh Ritual
Wake early, take a purifying bath, and wear clean clothes (often white)
Sit facing south — the direction associated with ancestors in Hindu cosmology
Perform Tarpan — offering water mixed with black sesame seeds to ancestors using cupped hands, letting it flow between the fingers (different from offerings to gods, which flow from the thumb side)
Recite the names and gotra of ancestors being honored, along with prayers for their peace
Prepare a simple meal — often rice, dal, and vegetables without onion/garlic — as an offering
Place a portion of the food on a banana leaf for crows (believed to be messengers connecting to ancestors) and cows
Invite a Brahmin priest for a meal, if possible — feeding a Brahmin is considered equivalent to feeding the ancestors directly
Offer dakshina (donation) to the priest or to charity
Conclude with a prayer of gratitude and a request for the family's continued wellbeing
Sarva Pitru Amavasya — The Final Day
The last day of Pitru Paksha, Sarva Pitru Amavasya (also called Mahalaya Amavasya), is considered the most important. Shradh performed on this day is believed to honor all ancestors collectively — including those whose specific death dates may be unknown or forgotten. Many families who cannot perform Shradh on the exact tithi for each ancestor choose to do a combined ritual on this final day.
Preserving Ancestor Information
One of the biggest practical challenges families face during Pitru Paksha is simply remembering the correct tithi (lunar date) for each ancestor's Shradh — these dates shift every year on the Gregorian calendar and are easy to lose track of, especially across generations. Recording each ancestor's name, gotra, death tithi, and any specific rituals your family follows in a shared family record ensures this knowledge isn't lost when the person who currently "remembers" passes on.
💡 Family tradition tip
Use Pitru Paksha as an opportunity to record family stories about ancestors — not just names and dates, but who they were, what they did, and memories family members have of them. This turns a ritual obligation into a meaningful act of preserving family history.
Building your family history? See our guide on making an Indian family tree.