Shradh (Pitru-Paksha) — 16 days of Ashwin-Krishna-Paksha when we remember pitars (deceased ancestors) — through tarpan, pind-daan, brahmin-bhoj. This is most sacred pitru-period of year. Detailed-description in Manusmriti, Garuda-Purana, Harivansha-Purana.
2026 Pitru-Paksha: From 7 September (Purnima-Shradh) to 22 September (Sarva-Pitru-Amavasya). Each tithi shradh of those pitars who died on same tithi. Sarva-pitru-shradh on Amavasya — for all. If tithi unknown then shradh on Amavasya.
✦ What is Pitru-Paksha?
16 days from Bhadrapad-Purnima to Ashwin-Amavasya = "Pitru-Paksha" / "Mahalaya-Paksha". Purana-story: Yamraj releases pitars annually for 16 days — to go to descendants on earth. Descendants satisfy them through tarpan-shradh.
Mahabharat-story: After death Karna went to heaven but only got gold to eat (had only donated gold). Asked Yamraj — "I donated gold all life. But never anna-daan for pitars." Then sent to earth for 16 days — for anna-daan to pitars. Since then pitru-paksha tradition.
Astronomy: Sun in Kanya-rashi during this period — best-time for pitru-tarpan. Beginning of Dakshinayana. Pitars come from "Pitru-loka" towards earth — "Pitru-shradh-kaal".
✦ 2026 Shradh-Tithis — Complete List
Purnima-Shradh: 7 September 2026 (Monday) — Bhadrapad-Purnima. Pratipada: 8 Sep. Dwitiya: 9 Sep. Tritiya: 10 Sep. Chaturthi (Bharani-shradh, maternal grandparents): 11 Sep. Panchami (Kunwara-Panchami, unmarried deceased): 12 Sep.
Shashthi: 13 Sep. Saptami: 14 Sep. Ashtami: 15 Sep. Navami (Avidhava-Navami, married mothers): 16 Sep. Dashami: 17 Sep. Ekadashi (Vaishnav-shradh): 18 Sep. Dwadashi (Sannyasi-shradh): 19 Sep.
Trayodashi (Bal-shradh): 20 Sep. Chaturdashi (untimely-death, accident, murder, suicide): 21 Sep. Amavasya (Sarva-Pitru-Amavasya / Mahalaya): 22 Sep — most important.
4 October 2026 Matri-Navami — sarva-matri-shradh (Ashtami kshaya). 9 October Chaturdashi shradh — for those died in accident.
✦ How to Choose Shradh-Tithi?
According to death-tithi: If father died on Tritiya — then Tritiya-shradh (10 Sep). If mother on Dashami — Dashami (17 Sep). Tithi not remembered? — sarva-pitru-amavasya (22 Sep) for all.
Special-tithi ones: 1) Matri-Navami (15 Sep) — mother, mother-in-law, paternal grandmother, maternal grandmother (married). 2) Chaturdashi (21 Sep) — untimely-death (young-death, accident, murder, suicide). 3) Chaturthi (11 Sep) — maternal grandfather, grandmother, sanskrit-disciple.
Different-tithi for male-female: Father-grandfather from Shukla-tithi, mother-grandmother from Krishna-tithi. Most pandits — accept death-tithi (without Krishna/Shukla difference). Local pandit-consultation.
✦ Shradh-Vidhi (Complete)
Pre-preparation: Brahmin-invitation a day before. House-purification. Deceased-clothes (saffron or white), yagyopavit, water, sesame, kush, silver coin, cow-ghee, kheer-puri (which were liked by pitar), banana-leaf.
Vidhi: 1) Morning-bath, white-clothes, yagyopavit from left-shoulder to right-waist (apraprasavya). 2) Kush asana. 3) Tilodak-tarpan — give sesame-mixed water to pitars 3 times by anjali. "Om Pitribhyah Namah". 4) Pind-daan — 6 pinds of rice-sesame-ghee-honey (father, paternal grandfather, great-grandfather, mother, paternal grandmother, great-grandmother).
5) Brahmin-bhoj — at-least 1 brahmin given sattvic-food (kheer-puri-pumpkin-chickpea-dal), dakshina, clothes. 6) Food to crow-cow-dog (pancha-bali). 7) Gayatri-mantra paath. 8) Pitru-Gayatri: "Om Devatabhyaha Pitribhyashcha Mahayogibhya Eva Cha. Namaha Swahayai Swadhayai Nityameva Namo Namaha."
Pind-visarjan: When shradh ends feed pind to cow, or immerse in tirth (Ganga, Yamuna, Gaya-bank).
✦ Rules in Shradh-Period
Don't do: 1) Any auspicious work (marriage, griha-pravesh, new work, buying clothes-jewels). 2) Meat-alcohol. 3) Hair-cutting (hair-beard). 4) Wearing new clothes. 5) Fight-quarrel in home. 6) Insult to anyone. 7) Shradh-work at night.
Do: 1) Sattvic-vegetarian. 2) Brahmacharya. 3) House-cleanliness. 4) Remembrance of pitars. 5) "Garuda-Purana" paath. 6) Bhagavad-Gita paath (mukti to pitars). 7) Light deepak — way for pitars. 8) Food to cow-crow-dog-ant-fish (pancha-bali).
Daan-list: Sesame, rice, jaggery, cow-ghee, silver, white-clothes, umbrella, shoes, cow (best — godan), land (most-best). Money to brahmin maximum — as per shraddha.
✦ Gaya, Badrinath — Pitru-Tirth
Gaya (Bihar): World-famous pitru-tirth. Pind-daan on Phalgu-river-bank. Belief — one shradh at Gaya = koti shradh-fal. Sri Ram performed father Dasharath's shradh at Gaya (Valmiki-Ramayana). Pitars satisfied from "Gayam-gayamiti".
Gaya-shradh-vidhi: Pind-daan at 17 places — Phalgu-bank, Akshayavat, Vishnupad, Brahma-Kund, Nagkup, Surya-Kund etc. 3-day anushthan. Panda-community contribution. Fee ₹5,000-50,000 (as per shraddha).
Other pitru-tirth: Badrinath-Brahma-Kapal (only during Badrinath open-period), Kurukshetra, Pushkar, Varanasi (Manikarnika-ghat), Nashik (Trimbakeshwar-Godavari), Ujjain (Ram-ghat). Best to go in pitru-paksha.
📚Sources & References
Content in this article is verified against the following classical and modern authoritative sources. Readers may independently verify against the original sources.
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
When to do shradh if tithi not remembered?▼
Do shradh on Sarva-Pitru-Amavasya (2026 — 22 September) — for all pitars. This is "Mahalaya" — most important-day. If Amavasya also missed — coming Amavasya or Navami.
Can women do shradh-karma?▼
Traditional view — only male (son, grandson) should do pind-daan. But if no son — daughter, daughter's husband, brother, nephew can also do. Women also did in Mahabharat-era. Modern view — by any blood-relative. But women can definitely do tarpan and pancha-bali.
What is Pitru-Dosha? How to pacify?▼
When shradh of pitars not done — pitru-dosha. In kundali pitru-dosha in Sun-Saturn-Rahu-Ketu. Symptoms: child-trouble, money-loss, family-discord, failure. Remedies: regular-shradh in pitru-paksha, Gaya-shradh, cow-daan, water to peepal-tree, "Pitru-stotra" paath, brahmin-bhoj.
When to do Garuda-Purana paath?▼
Main-paath for 13 days after death. Daily 1-2 chapters in pitru-paksha. On punya-tithi (death-tithi) of parents. On Ekadashi. This complete-description of Yam-loka, pitar-gati, rebirth after death. Best for sadgati of pitars.
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Note: This content is published for educational and cultural reference. For personal religious or astrological decisions, please consult a qualified pandit or jyotishi.