Pitru Paksha 2026: All 16 Shraddha Dates, the Right Time, and How to Do Tarpan at Home

Pitru Paksha 2026 begins with Purnima Shraddha on Saturday, 26 September and ends with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on Saturday, 10 October 2026. The first shraddha of the dark fortnight, Pratipada, is on Sunday 27 September. Shraddha for each ancestor is done on the lunar tithi on which they passed away, in the afternoon (aparahna), and anyone whose tithi is unknown is remembered on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.

This guide gives you the full 2026 calendar, explains how to find your ancestor's day, and walks you through a simple tarpan you can do at home.

Pitru Paksha 2026 at a glance

• Starts: Purnima Shraddha, Saturday 26 September 2026 (the Krishna Paksha shraddhas begin on Sunday 27 September)
• Ends: Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya), Saturday 10 October 2026
• Time of day: aparahna, roughly 1:30 PM to 3:50 PM IST (calculated for Ujjain; it shifts by a few minutes in your city)
• What comes next: Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October

All shraddha dates in Pitru Paksha 2026

*Panchami is a short tithi this year. Most calendars place Panchami Shraddha with Chaturthi on 30 September, but some local panchangs keep it on 1 October. If your family observes Panchami, check with your priest or local panchang.

Why you'll see "15 days" and "16 days"

Both are right. The dark fortnight itself runs from Pratipada (27 September) to Amavasya (10 October), which is fifteen tithis. Purnima Shraddha on 26 September is traditionally counted with it, giving sixteen shraddhas. Because two tithis share 30 September this year, the sixteen shraddhas fit into fifteen calendar dates.

How to find your ancestor's shraddha day

Shraddha follows the lunar tithi of death, not the English date. If your father passed away on a Saptami, his shraddha falls on Saptami Shraddha (2 October 2026), whatever the calendar date was when he died.

• Tithi known: perform shraddha on that tithi in the table above.
• Tithi unknown: perform it on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October. This day is for every ancestor.
• Mother and women of the family: many families remember them on Matru Navami (4 October).
• Those who died by accident or violence: Chaturdashi (9 October) is traditionally set aside for them.
• Children and those who were sannyasis: customs vary; many families use Dwadashi or follow their priest's advice.

The right time of day: Kutup and Aparahna

Shraddha is an afternoon rite. The scriptures prefer aparahna, the fourth of five equal parts of daylight, which in 2026 falls at about 1:30 PM to 3:50 PM IST through the fortnight. Many families begin a little earlier, in Kutup muhurat around midday, and continue into aparahna. Avoid performing shraddha in the morning or after sunset.

How to do tarpan at home: simple steps

Tarpan is the offering of water, black sesame and barley to the ancestors. It can be done at home, without a priest, in about fifteen minutes.

1. Prepare. Bathe, wear clean clothes, and keep a plate or vessel of water with black sesame (til), barley (jau), a little rice, kusha grass if you have it, and white flowers.
2. Face south. South is the direction of the Pitrs.
3. Wear the sacred thread over the right shoulder (apasavya), if you wear one.
4. Take the sankalp. Say your name, gotra, the date, and that you are offering tarpan for your ancestors.
5. Offer water through the base of the thumb. Scoop water with sesame into your joined palms and let it pour out between thumb and index finger (the pitru tirtha), three times for each ancestor, naming them.
6. Offer food. Set aside portions of the cooked food for the cow, the dog, the crow and ants (panchabali), then feed a Brahmin or someone in need, and only then let the family eat.

The full shraddha adds pind daan (offering rice balls) and a longer sequence of mantras. If time is short, a 15-minute version with tarpan, a sincere sankalp and food offered in their name is widely accepted.

What to cook, and what to avoid

Shraddha food is simple and sattvik: kheer, puri, a seasonal vegetable such as pumpkin or taro, dal and rice. Avoid onion, garlic, meat, eggs and alcohol in the shraddha meal. Many families also avoid masoor dal, brinjal and stale food. Follow your family's own list where it differs.

Who can perform shraddha?

Traditionally the eldest son performs it, but the texts and modern practice both allow others: a younger son, grandson, brother, nephew, wife or daughter. Daughters can perform shraddha, especially where there is no son, and many families now do this openly. What matters most is sincerity and remembrance.

The complete guide for your family

Pitru Paksha & Shraddha Vidhi 2026 takes you through every step in a 65-page book: all sixteen shraddha dates with exact tithi start and end times in IST, Kutup and aparahna timings for your city, tarpan and pind daan step by step, the full shraddha vidhi plus a 15-minute version, what to cook with a sample menu, who may perform it, and the complete Pitru Sukta (Rigveda 10.15) with meaning. Every mantra is in Devanagari, Roman transliteration and English. Instant PDF, ₹249, readable on your phone during the rite.

Navratri follows the day after Amavasya. If you're preparing for it too, see our guide to reading the Durga Saptashati this Navratri.

Frequently asked questions

When does Pitru Paksha 2026 start and end?

It begins with Purnima Shraddha on Saturday 26 September 2026 and ends with Sarva Pitru Amavasya on Saturday 10 October 2026. The first Krishna Paksha shraddha, Pratipada, is on 27 September.

What if I don't know the tithi my ancestor passed away on?

Perform shraddha on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October 2026. It is meant for all ancestors, including those whose tithi is unknown.

Can shraddha be done at home without a priest?

Yes. Tarpan and a simple shraddha can be done at home by a family member, facing south in the afternoon, with water, black sesame and a sincere sankalp.

What time should shraddha be performed in 2026?

In the afternoon, during aparahna, roughly 1:30 PM to 3:50 PM IST. Check your local panchang for exact times in your city.

Can a daughter perform shraddha?

Yes. Daughters, wives and other relatives may perform shraddha, particularly where there is no son. Many families follow this today.

Dates and times are calculated for India (IST) and cross-checked with published panchangs. Customs differ between regions and families; where yours differ, follow your family's tradition and your priest's guidance.