Pitru Paksha 2026: Complete Shraddha Calendar (26 September – 10 October) — Dates, Tithi Timings & Rituals

Pitru Paksha (पितृ पक्ष), also known as Shraddh Paksha or Kanagat, is the sacred 15-day lunar period in the Hindu calendar dedicated entirely to honouring departed ancestors. In 2026, Pitru Paksha begins on Saturday, 26 September (Purnima Shraddha) and concludes on Saturday, 10 October (Sarva Pitru / Mahalaya Amavasya). During this fortnight, families perform Shraddha (श्राद्ध), Tarpan (तर्पण), and Pind Daan (पिंड दान) on the specific tithi (lunar day) that matches the day their ancestor passed away. This guide provides the complete 2026 tithi calendar, ritual vidhi, and Pandit booking assistance across Delhi NCR.

What is Pitru Paksha?

Pitru Paksha is the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the Bhadrapada month in the Hindu lunar calendar. It falls between the full moon of Bhadrapada and the new moon of Ashwin — the 15 days when Hindus believe the souls of departed ancestors (pitrs / पितर) descend to the earthly realm to receive offerings from their descendants.

Performing Shraddha during Pitru Paksha is considered one of the most sacred duties in Sanatan Dharma. Ancient texts including the Garuda Purana, Matsya Purana, and Manu Smriti describe it as essential for:

• Pitru Rin (पितृ ऋण) — repayment of the debt owed to ancestors
• Pitru Dosh (पितृ दोष) shanti — mitigation of ancestral karmic afflictions in one’s horoscope
• Family wellbeing — the blessings of pleased ancestors are believed to bring prosperity, health, and progeny
• Moksha for the departed — helping unfulfilled souls attain liberation

The rituals are performed on the tithi (lunar day) on which the ancestor passed away — not the English calendar date — so the observance day shifts each year while the tithi remains constant.

Pitru Paksha 2026 — Full 15-Day Shraddha Tithi Calendar

Below is the complete day-by-day Shraddha tithi calendar for Pitru Paksha 2026, based on the North Indian Panchang for New Delhi. If your ancestor’s death tithi is one of these, perform their Shraddha on the corresponding date.

How to Perform Shraddha at Home

For families who cannot travel to Gaya, Haridwar, or Prayagraj, Shraddha can be performed at home with equal spiritual efficacy — provided the rituals follow the traditional vidhi. Below is the essential step-by-step procedure.

Step 1 — Preparation (Before Sunrise)

• Wake before sunrise and take a purifying bath (snan)
• Wear clean, unstitched cotton clothes (traditionally white or light-coloured)
• Set up the ritual space facing south — the direction associated with Pitrs

Step 2 — Sankalp (Intention)

• Sit facing south with water, black sesame seeds (kala til), Kusha grass, and rice in your hand
• Take a Sankalp naming your gotra, ancestor’s name, and the tithi you are observing
• Invite ancestors mentally to receive the offerings

Step 3 — Tarpan (Water Offering)

• Facing south, offer water mixed with black sesame seeds and Kusha grass to your ancestors
• Recite Pitru mantras: “Om Pitrubhyah Namah” and traditional Tarpan mantras
• Offer three handfuls of Tarpan while remembering each ancestor by name

Step 4 — Pind Daan (Rice Ball Offering)

• Prepare pinds (small balls of cooked rice mixed with black sesame, honey, ghee, and milk)
• Offer pinds on Kusha grass while chanting mantras
• Traditionally, three pinds are offered — for father, grandfather, and great-grandfather (paternal line)

Step 5 — Feeding Brahmins & Charity

• Cook a satvik vegetarian meal (kheer, puri, pumpkin sabzi are traditional)
• Feed a Brahmin priest, a cow, a crow (representing Yama’s messenger), and a dog
• Give anna daan (food) and vastra daan (clothes) to the needy

Step 6 — Closing

• Light a diya with mustard oil or ghee
• Perform aarti and seek blessings of the ancestors
• The ritual is complete once the Brahmin/beneficiaries depart satisfied

Important: Shraddha must be performed during the Kutup Muhurat (approx 11:36 AM to 12:24 PM IST for New Delhi) — the most auspicious window. Verify daily timings with a Pandit or local Panchang.

Best Places for Pind Daan in 2026

While Shraddha at home is valid, Pind Daan at certain sacred locations is considered spiritually more effective for ancestors’ liberation.

Sacred National Locations

• Gaya (Bihar) — The most auspicious location. Vishnupad Temple, Falgu River, and Akshayavat are the traditional Pind Daan sites. Even a single Pind Daan at Gaya is said to grant Moksha to seven generations of ancestors.
• Haridwar (Uttarakhand) — Har Ki Pauri on the Ganges is a major North Indian Pind Daan destination.
• Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) — Triveni Sangam, where Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet, is highly revered.
• Kashi / Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) — Manikarnika and Assi Ghat on the Ganges.
• Badrinath (Uttarakhand) — Brahma Kapal near Alaknanda river.

Delhi NCR Options for Pind Daan / Tarpan

For families in Delhi NCR who cannot travel:

• Nigambodh Ghat — Delhi’s oldest and most sacred cremation ghat on the Yamuna
• Lodhi Road Cremation Ground — modern facility with dedicated Shraddha halls
• Haridwar (day trip) — 5-hour drive from Delhi, popular same-day option

Last Ride Funeral coordinates end-to-end Pind Daan services at all above locations, including Pandit, samagri, and travel arrangements.

Special Days Within Pitru Paksha 2026

Not every day of Pitru Paksha is the same. Five days have unique significance:

1. Purnima Shraddha — 26 September 2026 (Saturday)

The opening day. Shraddha for ancestors who passed on the full moon day. Traditionally combines with the Bhadrapada Purnima observances.

2. Kunwara Shraddha (Panchami) — 1 October 2026 (Thursday)

For ancestors who passed away unmarried. This includes children who died young and unmarried adults.

3. Matru Navami / Avidhava Navami — 5 October 2026 (Monday)

The most emotionally important day for many families. Dedicated to departed mothers and married women who predeceased their husbands (Suhagan). Male family members observe fast and offer Shraddha.

4. Ghata Chaturdashi — 9 October 2026 (Friday)

For ancestors who died by accident, weapon, snake bite, suicide, or any untimely / violent cause. This special Shraddha is meant to grant peace to souls that departed suddenly.

5. Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya) — 10 October 2026 (Saturday) ⭐

The closing and most important day. Shraddha performed on this day covers all ancestors — known and unknown — and is the fallback day if the specific tithi Shraddha was missed. See our complete guide: Sarva Pitru Amavasya 2026 →

Do’s and Don’ts During Pitru Paksha

✅ Do’s

• Perform Shraddha on the tithi matching your ancestor’s death day
• Feed Brahmins, cows, crows, and dogs — considered messengers of Yama
• Give anna daan (food), vastra daan (clothes), and dakshina to the needy
• Maintain a satvik vegetarian diet throughout the 15 days
• Light a diya facing south each evening
• Keep prayers and remembrance sincere and free of ostentation

❌ Don’ts

• Do not start new ventures, weddings, or Griha Pravesh (house-warming)
• Avoid buying new vehicles, jewellery, or clothes
• Do not consume onion, garlic, non-vegetarian food, or alcohol
• Do not cut hair, nails, or shave (traditional families)
• Do not turn away crows, cows, or dogs from your door — they may be embodiments of visiting ancestors
• Do not perform Shraddha in the evening — always in the Kutup Muhurat window

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Pitru Paksha start and end in 2026?

Pitru Paksha 2026 starts on Saturday, 26 September (Purnima Shraddha) and ends on Saturday, 10 October (Sarva Pitru Amavasya / Mahalaya). It is the 15-day Krishna Paksha of the Bhadrapada month in the Hindu lunar calendar.

What is the most important day of Pitru Paksha 2026?

Sarva Pitru Amavasya on Saturday, 10 October 2026 is the most important day. It is the closing tithi of Pitru Paksha and Shraddha performed on this day is accepted for all ancestors — including those whose death tithi is unknown.

On which day should I perform my ancestor’s Shraddha?

Perform Shraddha on the tithi (lunar day) that matches the day your ancestor passed away — not the English calendar date. For example, if your father passed on a Saptami tithi, perform his Shraddha on Saptami Shraddha (3 October 2026). If the tithi is unknown, perform on Sarva Pitru Amavasya (10 October 2026).

Can Pitru Paksha Shraddha be done at home?

Yes. Home Shraddha is valid provided the vidhi is followed — pre-sunrise bath, south-facing Tarpan with black sesame, Pind Daan, feeding of Brahmin/cow/crow/dog, and anna daan. It should be performed during the Kutup Muhurat (approx 11:36 AM – 12:24 PM IST for Delhi NCR). Last Ride Funeral coordinates verified Pandits for home Shraddha across Delhi NCR.

What is Matru Navami and when is it in 2026?

Matru Navami (also called Avidhava Navami) falls on Monday, 5 October 2026 during Pitru Paksha. It is dedicated to departed mothers and married women who predeceased their husbands. Male family members traditionally observe fast and perform Shraddha on this day.

What should not be done during Pitru Paksha?

Avoid starting new ventures, weddings, Griha Pravesh, purchasing new vehicles/jewellery, cutting hair or nails, and consuming non-vegetarian food, onion, garlic, or alcohol. Do not turn away crows, cows, or dogs — they may be embodiments of visiting ancestors.

Where is Pind Daan performed for maximum benefit?

Gaya (Bihar) is considered the most spiritually powerful location — a single Pind Daan at Vishnupad Temple / Falgu River is said to grant Moksha to seven generations. Other major locations include Haridwar, Prayagraj, Kashi, and Badrinath. For Delhi NCR families, Nigambodh Ghat and Lodhi Road Cremation Ground are trusted local options.

How much does a Pitru Paksha Shraddha Pandit cost in Delhi NCR?

Home Shraddha Pandit typically costs ₹2,100 – ₹5,100 depending on ritual complexity and samagri. Ghat-based Tarpan at Nigambodh or Lodhi Road starts at ₹3,500. Full Gaya Pind Daan travel package (3 days from Delhi, all-inclusive) starts at ₹15,000. Last Ride Funeral offers same-day booking on all 15 days of Pitru Paksha 2026 — call +91 9217179989.

Conclusion

Pitru Paksha 2026 (26 September – 10 October) is more than a ritual observance — it is Sanatan Dharma’s most direct expression of gratitude toward those who came before us. Whether you perform a simple Tarpan at home or undertake the full Pind Daan pilgrimage to Gaya, the intent of remembrance and dharma matters far more than the scale of the ritual. Last Ride Funeral is honoured to assist families across Delhi NCR through the entire 15-day period — with verified Pandits, ghat coordination, and travel arrangements — so that no ancestor goes unremembered and every Shraddha is performed with the dignity it deserves.

Related Resources

• 📅 Amavasya 2026 Calendar — All 12 Monthly Amavasyas
• ⭐ Sarva Pitru Amavasya 2026 — Complete Guide (10 October)