Shradh 2026: Mark Your Calendar for Pitru Paksha Dates

A famous saying, “We reap what we sow,” fits perfectly with the Pitru Paksha Shradh. During this 15 to 17-day period, one performs Pitru Paksha rituals to get rid of bad karmas and calm their ancestors’ souls. As the Pitru Paksha Shradh 2026 approaches, let us read about the important Shradh dates, significant rituals, and benefits.

When is Pitru Paksha or Shradh 2026?

In 2026, the Shraddh start date is Saturday, September 26th, and will end on Saturday, October 10th. Here are all Pitru Paksha dates from Day 1 to Day 15.

Shradh Dates in 2026

Pitru Paksha or Shradh Meaning 

The word “Pitru Paksha” is derived from the Sanskrit language, where “Pitru” means ancestors or forefathers, and “Paksha” means period. It is a duration when people do food offerings in the name of their ancestors every year. It is one of the most important periods in the Hindu religion.

People believe that worshipping ancestors or forefathers can bring us blessings of God. It is an auspicious activity to ask the divine’s favour as it spiritually connects the past, present and future. However, the main reason for performing Pitru Paksh Shradh is to request God to forgive the sins or the past mistakes of the ancestors. 

Also Read: Know the Date and Time Of All Amavasya 2026

Significance Of Pitru Paksha 

Pitru Paksha, or Shradh, has had deep significance in Hinduism for ages. Let us shed more light on this below: 

• People perform Pitru Paksha from the Shraad start date till the end to ensure that our ancestors receive heaven and become one with God.
• During Pitru Paksha, people believe that their ancestors visit the Earth. Therefore, they perform activities to calm the departed souls and receive their blessings.
• They believe that a world between Earth and heaven, called Pitralok, is where the ancestors of three generations reside.
• When someone dies from the next generation, one of the three ancestors moves to heaven to leave a place for the deceased soul in Pitrilok.
• Lord Yama, the God of Death, looks after the Pitrilok. Therefore, Shraadh rites are a time to impress him as well.
• Performing Pitru Paksha ensures the departed souls are fed well through the Tarpan and Pinddan rituals during their journey to the Pitrilok and to heaven.
• Pitru Paksh Shradh is also an essential time for people with Pitru Dosh in their horoscopes.

Role of Shradh in Pitru Dosh 

Before moving straight towards Pitru Paksha Shradh rituals and do’s & don’ts, knowing what Pitru Dosh is essential. Anyone with Pitru Dosh in their horoscope must know that Shradh or Pitru Paksha is an auspicious time to eliminate it.

Pitru Dosh occurs when the karma of our ancestors creates a debt that negatively impacts the next generation. This causes problems and hurdles in the lives of the living. During this time, even the planets shift from their appropriate houses.

• Remedies for Pitru Dosh

Pitru Dosh can be a topic of concern, and one must get rid of it. Following are some remedies for removing Pitru Dosh apart from performing Shradh.

• Offer food to the needy – dogs, birds and the poor.
• Pay respect and spend time with elderly people.
• Donate to hospitals or to physically challenged people, especially during New Moon or Amavasya. Also, lighting a candle and feeding the Brahmins would add to the auspiciousness.
• Feed the cow and water the Banyan tree.
• Respect your wife or husband.

Pitru Paksh Rituals 

The Pitru Paksh rituals are distributed over 16 lunar days. Let us understand the Shraadh ritual order performed on each day.

1. Morning Ritual: The eldest son of the family performs the Pitru pooja at home. The member performing the ritual has to wake up early in the morning, take a bath and clean the whole house.

2. Preparing For Puja: The one performing Pitru Paksha Shradh Pooja has to be bare-chested and compulsorily wear a dhoti. He also has to wear a ring made of Darbha grass. 

3. Performing Puja: Next, mantras, popularly known as “Om Shanti”, are chanted in a belief to have the ancestors’ souls seated in the Dharba ring. Alongside, we worship Lord Vishnu and Lord Yama (the Death God).

4. Tarpan: After step 3, Tarpan is performed wherein a mixture of rice, milk and black sesame seed is prepared in a copper vessel. Facing the south, people offer the mixture to the ancestors, taking their names and gotra if possible.

5. Pind daan: Next, 7 Small balls or Pind are made of cooked rice, milk, ghee, sugar, barley flour and honey. One Pind is offered to the deceased or the ancestor, and the rest are kept to donate to the needy. This process is called Pindadan.

6. Feeding crows and dogs: The cooked food, along with Pind, is then served to crows and dogs, as they are considered to carry the souls of ancestors during the time.

7. Feeding the Brahmins: The Shradh ritual ends with finally feeding the Brahmins. It has been an auspicious activity for ages.

Also Read: Solah Somvar Vrat 2025 Date, Ritual And Time

Pitru Paksha Benefits

People stay careful for the 16 long days to receive Pitru Paksha benefits. Believers do everything in a proper manner to obtain the following benefits.

• Removes Pitru Dosh: It helps in eliminating Pitru Dosh in a horoscope. This also allows planets to come back to the right positions and houses. It ensures that ancestors’ souls are satisfied and they can happily start their journey to heaven.

• Freedom From Karmic Debt: If you successfully contribute to this duration, you will eliminate the karmic debts or the punishment of the past generations. Hence, it won’t pose challenges to you or your future.

• Peace and Prosperity: From the beginning to the shradh end date, following each ritual religiously maintains peace and the overall well-being of the living generation as well.

Pitru Paksha Dos and Don’ts

During Pitra Pooja or Shradh, the following are the dos and don’ts to remember. But to get more specific, you must consult a Pandit. This allows our ancestors to move to heaven peacefully.

Dos during Pitru Paksha

• Carry out the Pitra Pooja and Shradh rituals properly to ensure your ancestors’ souls are at peace.
• The one performing the ritual should strictly follow Brahmacharya – a balanced diet, less talking, being polite, and avoiding any kind of love affair.
• Ensure you offer water (Tarpan) and food (Pind Daan) to your ancestors throughout the 16 days.
• Perform rituals inside your own home and use the main door for Pind Daan to benefit the souls of ancestors.
• Wear simple and clean clothes during the rituals to show respect to your ancestors.

Don’ts during Pitru Paksha

• Do not purchase any new items during the 16 days of Pitru Paksha. Avoid any other auspicious activity other than the Pitru Paksh Shradh.
• Avoid non-vegetarian food items.
• The person performing the ritual must not cut their nails. Also, he should not have a haircut or shave his beard during that time.
• If possible, don’t wear slippers for 16 days at home. The Pitru or ancestors may feel disrespected if the eldest son wears chappals.
• Do not eat onions, garlic, gram, lentils, cumin, black salt, gourd, cucumber, and mustard greens.

Sattvic Food Items To Prepare For Shradh 2026  

We now know that we need to avoid certain food items during Pitru Paksh Shradh. Here are the top suggestions for things you can prepare to pay respect to your ancestors.

• Kheer
• Urad Dal
• Sabudana Khichdi
• Puri and Aloo Bhaji (Without Onion and Garlic)
• Sooji Halma

What Are the Days for the Shradh Ritual?  

Did you know there are other days when you can perform the Shraddha ceremony? Yes, you read it right. As per the Hindu religion, there are about 96 days in a year for performing Shradh, including Pitru Paksh. 

• 15 days of Pitru Paksha
• 12 Amavasya in a year
• 12 Sankranti days
• 12 days of Vaidhriti Yoga
• 12 days of Vyatipata Yoga
• 14 Manvadi Tithis or Manvantaras
• 15 days of Purvey, Ashtaka, and Anvashtaka days
• 4 Yugadi Days of Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga, Kali Yuga

The Other Days of Shradh 

• Surya Grahan and Chandra Grahan
• Bhishma Ashtami Day
• The birth anniversary of the son
• Marriage of the son
• Availability of a Brahmin
• Gajah Chaiya Yoga
• Sampat day

Frequently Asked Questions 

Also Read: All List of Purnima 2026 Date And Time

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