पितृ पक्ष
Pitru Paksha begins
The fortnight for honouring ancestors with shraddha and tarpan, ending on Mahalaya Amavasya.
About Pitru Paksha begins
Pitru Paksha is the dark fortnight of Ashwina in the Purnimanta calendar, sixteen days from the day after Bhadrapada Purnima to Sarvapitru Amavasya.
Families perform shraddha for their ancestors on the tithi of their death, offering food, water and sesame. The ritual is done in the Aparahna, the afternoon, which is considered the time of the ancestors.
How to celebrate
Find the tithi on which each ancestor passed away, and do their shraddha on that day of the fortnight.
Offer tarpan of water, black sesame and kusha grass, facing south.
Offer pinda, rice balls, and feed brahmins, cows, crows and dogs.
If the tithi is not known, do the shraddha on Sarvapitru Amavasya.
Do
- Feed the needy in the name of your ancestors
- Do the shraddha in the afternoon
Avoid
- Starting new ventures or buying new things
- Non-vegetarian food, onion and garlic
Questions
When is Pitru Paksha begins in 2026?
Pitru Paksha begins 2026 is on Sunday, 27 September 2026. Krishna Pratipada tithi begins at 10:18 PM on Saturday 26 September and ends at 8:59 PM on Sunday 27 September IST.
What is the Pitru Paksha begins muhurat in 2026?
In New Delhi, the aparahna muhurat is from 1:24 PM to 3:48 PM IST. Pick your city in the timings card to see local times.
What if I do not know the tithi of an ancestor's death?
Shraddha for all ancestors can be done on Sarvapitru Amavasya, the last day of Pitru Paksha.
Why are crows fed during Pitru Paksha?
Crows are believed to be messengers of the ancestors. Food accepted by a crow is believed to reach them.
Around Pitru Paksha begins
Coming up
- Karva ChauthThu 29 Oct
- Ahoi AshtamiSun 1 Nov
- Rama EkadashiThu 5 Nov
- DhanterasFri 6 Nov
- DiwaliSun 8 Nov
- Narak ChaturdashiSun 8 Nov
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